Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 02/02/2009

Contact person(s):

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

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

PRISON SENTENCES IN VICIOUS BEATING OF TWO DISABLED MEN

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that four of five defendants, all Santa Rosa men, were sentenced yesterday to lengthy prison sentences related to the April 2008 beating and sexual assault of two disabled male victims.  The Honorable Kenneth J. Gnoss sentenced Reid Rogers, 19, to 23 years, 8 months in state prison; Pierre Guidry, 19, to 15 years, 8 months; Bryan Stanley, 21, to 10 years; and Mark Echemendia, 19, to 8 years.   Defendant Fredrick Caddell Jr., 19, will be sentenced March 5, 2009. 

District Attorney Passalacqua said, “Lengthy prison terms are appropriate for these men, who committed heinous and devastating crimes against two innocent vulnerable victims.”

Late in the evening on April 25, 2008, the two victims entered the skate park across from Piner High School.  While walking through the park, they were accosted by a group of young men and ordered to empty their pockets.  Once their property was taken, Defendant Stanley took the younger of the two victims, who is developmentally disabled, out of the park and to a series of ATM machines.  On the way to the ATM machines, the victim was repeatedly threatened that if he failed to cooperate he would be injured or killed.  He was forced to withdraw $260 from his bank account and give it to Stanley.  Meanwhile, the remainder of the defendants took turns beating and humiliating the second victim.  They punched and kicked him, poured beer on him, and urinated on him.  Once the younger victim was returned to the scene by Stanley, this victim was also struck in the face and head, to the point of losing consciousness.  One of the defendants beat the victims with brass knuckles.  Both victims were later forced under threat of physical harm and death to a second location, where Defendants Caddell, Rogers, and Guidry continued to humiliate them.  Under threat of force and with the use of a knife, the victims were forced to engage in sexual acts.  The victims were ultimately released, but threatened with death if they contacted police.

The Defendants all pleaded guilty or no contest on October 7th after the two victims appeared in court and testified at the preliminary hearing. No offers or agreements were extended by the prosecution.

One of the victims, his parents, and a family friend made emotional statements to the Court, describing the devastating impact of the crimes and requesting that the maximum sentences be imposed.   The sentences imposed by the Court reflect the Court’s determination of the defendants’ respective levels of culpability and participation in the crimes, and where mitigated, lack of prior criminal record. 

The case was investigated by Santa Rosa Police, led by Detective Mark Mahre, and the prosecutor was Juliette Olson.