DA Again Delays Decision on Filing Charges Against Sonoma County Supervisor Efrem Carrillo

By Bay City News Service

A decision on whether charges will be filed against Sonoma County Supervisor Efren Carrillo was postponed for the third time this morning in court.

Santa Rosa police arrested Carrillo, 32, on July 13 on suspicion of prowling and attempted burglary at a woman's apartment in the area of Stony Point Road and West Third Street in west Santa Rosa.

The unidentified woman called police around 3:40 a.m. that day to report someone tried to enter her bedroom window. She called police again while they were responding and said someone knocked on her door, identified himself as a neighbor and ran away.

Carrillo, the county's 5th District supervisor who lived nearby on Brockhurst Drive, was in his socks and underwear and was carrying a cellphone when he was arrested at the scene.

Carrillo then entered an alcohol treatment center for five weeks.

He publicly apologized and disclosed he is a binge drinker when he unexpectedly returned to the Board of Supervisors at a meeting on Aug. 20.

Napa County Deputy District Attorney Cody Hunt, who is handling the case for the state attorney general's office, told Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Gary Medvigy he is still waiting for documents and he expects a decision "shortly" on whether charges will be filed.

The next court hearing is set for Nov. 1.

Attorney Rosanne Darling, a former Sonoma County deputy district attorney who is representing the alleged victim, objected to the latest delay.

She said the woman is "outraged and frustrated" that the process is taking so long and is concerned the delay on the filing decision is linked to Carrillo's political position.

"Another delay offends her dignity," Darling said. "The facts in this case are straightforward.”

Carrillo's attorney Chris Andrian said the delay regarding the filing of charges is not that unusual, and the case's political aspects are why it was sent to the state attorney general's office.

Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch has said her office is not prosecuting the case to avoid a conflict of interest because the Board of Supervisors oversees and votes on her office's budget. Ravitch and Carrillo also are political allies.

Carrillo did not immediately return a call for comment this morning.

Andrian said "this case has more tension," and Carrillo "like anyone in this situation wants some idea how it's going. He's trying to be patient like everyone else."

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