Manslaughter sentencing
The driver who in June 2006 fatally injured an elderly pedestrian, Annamarie Rose Simmons, 81, in a crosswalk in Sonoma, was sentenced last week to jail and three years of probation, following her no-contest plea in November 2007.
Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Gary Medvigy sentenced Maria Diaz DeLeon, 49, of Napa, to 30 days in the Sonoma County Jail and ordered her taken into custody to begin serving her sentence immediately. In addition to jail time and probation, DeLeon was ordered not to drive a motor vehicle and to pay restitution. She was also ordered to participate in a local program called Restorative Resources, which will determine additional terms of her probation that could include community service and making amends to the victim’s family.
Simmons, on her daily outing to visit her granddaughter, who worked at a nearby grocery store. had been walking in a marked and lighted crosswalk at 5th Street West and Studley Street on June 11, 2006, when she was struck and killed by DeLeon, who was driving a Dodge pickup. The crosswalk was equipped with flashing warning lights that Simmons had activated prior to stepping in the crosswalk. At the time, DeLeon was an unlicensed driver who had failed to pass the written portion of a driving test on three different occasions.
Erik Garcia on
Boys & Girls Board
The Boys & Girls Club Valley of the Moon announced last week that Erik Garcia has been appointed to the Executive Board as Vice President of Operations. Garcia, a Sonoma Valley native and Boys & Girls Club alumnus, has been a member of the Club’s Facilities Committee. Garcia operates Sonoma Materials, his family’s business. The company, founded by Tony Garcia, is a long-time generous supporter, including donating labor and materials to improve the road behind the Club and, along with Scandia Landscaping, remodeling the garden.
Board president Deborah Emery said, “Erik brings much to our board: a link to the Hispanic community we serve, youth, fresh ideas and he comes from a wonderful, giving family in our community. The board is pleased to welcome this fine young man to our team.”
Stolen tools traced
to Agua Caliente
Police arrested Mark William Rapozo, 47, last week for possession of tools reported stolen from a home in the 17000 block of Sonoma Highway on Sunday. The burglar at that vacant residence had broken in through a locked rear door and had made off with a paint sprayer and other tools which the victim valued at $1,300. Police traced the items to Rapozo’s home, in the same block as the victim’s. Rapozo was taken to the Sonoma County jail and booked.
The crime is but one in a long series of thefts and burglaries that have recently been afflicting the usually quiet valley. “This is an aberration for the Sonoma Valley,” said Sgt. Dave Peterson, of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department. “We have peaks and valleys, and right now to have the number [of burglaries] we have, we’re taking this very seriously. The number of victims we have is overwhelming.”
Despite the arrest, the wider problem of crime remains, said Peterson. “Even with one simple arrest, we don’t know how that will affect the overall picture. It’s just one burglar. But he could be involved in other burglaries. Even if we can only get one case on one person, that will help us make sure other people aren’t victimized.”
Team rescues man rescuing dog
On Saturday morning at about 8:50 a.m, the mother of one of the Sonoma High School varsity basketball players pounded on the gym door saying to come quick, that a man was screaming outside in the creek. Coach Rogina and team members Jayce Ray, Victor Fuentes, Ben Graff, Matt Darnell, Lee Jorgensen, Dylan Severson, Christian Palominos, and P.J. Pedroncelli raced to the scene to find Tom Mix, 55, of Sonoma clinging to the stream bank in powerfully rushing water, held in place by a passerby.
Rogina ordered his students not to get into the water, but instead to form a human chain and lower him in to rescue Mix. Together they pulled the man to safety, scratched, wet and cold but otherwise unharmed. Mix suffered a slight head laceration, and he was treated and released at the scene by paramedics.
Mix been walking his three Labrador retrievers during a break in the rain when one of the dogs bounded into the storm-swollen creek. Mix attempted to assist his dog but lost his footing and fell into the swiftly moving water. The Labrador made it out of the creek unscathed.
Survey shows County’s concerns
Crime is the top concern for Sonoma County residents, according to a survey done last month by Sacramento firm, JMM Research for the Sonoma County Transportation Authority.
Reporting to the Sonoma City Council earlier this month, council member Stanley Cohen reported that the survey’s top concerns were: 1) crime and gang activity, at 82 percent; 2) foreign oil, at 81 per cent; and 3) water, 80 percent. Preventing global climate change had weighed in at 62 percent, which means people are concerned, though not enough to meet the surveyors’ standard for “significance” at 67 percent. The idea of “getting people out of their cars,” something Cohen has said is necessary if the city is to lower emissions, may run into difficulty. According to Cohen, the survey showed that, “Even if gas were $5 a gallon, people still said they would not use the bus.” A new passenger rail line, which has been proposed periodically, was well received by survey respondents, with 68 percent reportedly saying it was a great idea; however, they said it’s a good idea “for others” – most would stay in their own cars.
