Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 01/27/2009

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Terry Menshek (707) 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Christine Cook

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

SEBASTOPOL MAN SENTENCED TO 160 YEARS TO LIFE FOR
MOLESTING HIS TWO STEPDAUGHTERS

Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that Michael David Cornett was sentenced to 160 years to life after being convicted by a jury of molesting his two pre-teen stepdaughters.  The Honorable Renee Chouteau sentenced Cornett to three consecutive life terms as a result of his convictions.  Cornett was convicted in 1996 in Marin County for molesting his then 9-year-old stepdaughter from a previous marriage.

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua said, “This individual is a sexually violent predator who preyed on his two young stepdaughters and now, with this lengthy prison sentence, will never have the opportunity to harm them again.”

Testimony at trial established that Cornett molested his six and ten year old stepdaughters in 2007.   Unknown to the defendant, the girls’ 13 year old brother discovered the defendant molesting one of his sisters on one occasion and took a photo with a camera.  He then reported the crime and testified at trial to what he witnessed.

Cornett was convicted of all charges by a Sonoma County jury on November 24, 2008 after a 14 day trial.  During the trial, the defendant’s first stepdaughter, now 23 years old, came forward and testified to the abuse he had inflicted on her years ago.