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Two Cousins Sentenced to Hundreds of Years in Prison After Child Molestation Convictions
On Thursday January 2, 2025, Judge Mark Urioste sentenced Giovany Neftali Barrientos-Perez to serve 500 years 4 months to life, and sentenced Bayron Vasquez to serve 485 years to life in state prison, for crimes committed against multiple children. The sentencing was the culmination of a nearly six-week trial after which both men were convicted of a combined 43 counts of child molestation. The guilty verdicts included convictions for lewd and lascivious conduct with a child, sexual intercourse with a child under the age of eleven, aggravated sexual assault of a child, forcible rape of a child, and the continuous sexual abuse of a minor. Read full story
Public invited to share input as Board of Supervisors sets 2025 agenda during January 10 meeting in Sebastopol
The public is invited to offer input on Friday, January 10, when the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors will hold a special board meeting. The meeting will include a discussion of “2025 Calendar Items of Significant Interest,” and will be held at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts beginning at 9 a.m. Read full story
Development underway for permanent supportive housing project at George’s Hideaway
Demolition has begun at George’s Hideaway, the former tavern and restaurant in west Sonoma County, making way for permanent supportive housing. The project at George’s Hideaway, located along Highway 116 in Guerneville, involves the creation of 21 units of permanent supportive housing and a navigation center. Read full story
Sonoma County suspends issuing well permits after court order
Permit Sonoma has suspended issuing non-emergency well permits in compliance with a Sonoma County Superior Court order. The order, which was served to the County on Dec. 17, stems from the lawsuit Russian Riverkeeper and California Coastkeeper vs. County of Sonoma. It requires the County to “suspend all non-emergency water well permitting” based on concerns that the County has not complied with the Public Trust Doctrine. Read full story
Memorial to recognize 60 lives lost in Sonoma County’s unhoused community
On Dec. 20, one day before National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, HomeFirst and Sonoma County Department of Health Services will host a memorial to honor individuals who lost their lives over the last year while living without housing in Sonoma County. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Arlene Francis Center, 99 6th St., Santa Rosa. The space is being provided by FS Global, and Community Foundation Sonoma County granted the needed funding to host the memorial. Read full story
Prescribed burn operations planned at Sonoma Valley Regional Park
Sonoma County Regional Parks plan to conduct prescribed fire operations at Sonoma Valley Regional Park on Dec.11-12 to reduce fire risk and improve park health. Read full story
Child Murderer Denied Parole
Defendant Robert Michael Mills, 63 years old of Santa Rosa, was denied parole Tuesday morning following a hearing conducted by the California Board of Parole Hearings. Mr. Mills is currently serving a life sentence in state prison after a jury in 1989 found him guilty of murder by torture and child abuse. Read full story
Board of Supervisors approves temporary fix to implement voter-approved sales taxes in Sonoma County, Sebastopol
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved a stopgap measure today that will allow two voter-approved measures to increase sales taxes countywide and in the City of Sebastopol on April 1, 2025. Read full story
Sonoma County approves new contract with in-home care providers
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today ratified a three-year contract agreement with Service Employees International Union Local 2015 that would increase wages and benefits for more than 7,200 local in-home care workers who assist seniors and people with disabilities. Read full story
Sonoma County judge, director of Juvenile Hall receive statewide awards from Chief Probation Officers of California
The presiding judge of Sonoma County Superior Court and the director of Sonoma County’s Juvenile Hall were recently honored by a statewide group of probation officers for their efforts to improve the local justice system. Read full story
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