Sonoma County, CA— A recent sentencing in Sonoma County has drawn widespread criticism after a Santa Rosa man was handed probation despite a brutal attack on a woman in October 2023.
The case, which involved charges of mayhem, assault with a deadly weapon, and sexual battery, has left many questioning the fairness of the legal system. Trevor Colombano, 38, of Santa Rosa, was sentenced on Monday by Judge Dana Simonds to probation, despite the recommendation from the District Attorney’s Office, the Court’s Probation Department, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) for a prison sentence.
The charges against Colombano stemmed from a violent incident in which he attacked a woman, leaving her with severe injuries and permanent disfigurement.
The attack occurred on the afternoon of October 28, 2023, when the victim, who had been out walking her dog near Howarth Park in Santa Rosa, was approached from behind by Colombano.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, Colombano sexually assaulted the victim by rubbing his erect penis on her buttocks. When the victim rejected his advances, Colombano became violent. He struck the victim repeatedly in the head before grabbing a landscaping rock and bashing her face with it. The brutal assault was witnessed by the victim’s 13-year-old daughter and niece, both of whom were left traumatized by the event.
The attack only ended when two bystanders intervened, restraining Colombano until the arrival of the police.
The victim sustained multiple injuries, including lacerations to her scalp, a full-thickness laceration to her lip, and permanent facial disfigurement that required extensive medical treatment, including 17 sutures and five staples. During the sentencing hearing, the victim spoke emotionally about the lasting effects of the attack. “When you have a stranger attack you in the way I was attacked, it felt like my ability to be strong was taken away from me,” the victim said. “My daughter and my little cousin had to witness the whole thing… I cannot even put into words the feeling of not being able to protect yourself or your child at the same time.” Despite the severity of the crime and the victim’s compelling testimony, the court opted for probation rather than a prison sentence.
The victim, who has since relocated out of California, had requested a prison sentence, as did the District Attorney’s Office and CDCR. Both agencies argued that Colombano posed a danger to public safety and that a prison sentence was warranted for the nature of the attack. However, Judge Simonds cited Colombano’s mental health issues and stress, along with his cannabis consumption, as contributing factors in her decision to impose probation. The probation department had also recommended a prison sentence, acknowledging the serious nature of the crime, but ultimately Judge Simonds chose probation, a decision that has sparked outrage within the community.
Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez expressed her disappointment in the ruling, stating, “Justice was not served in this case… Mr. Colombano is a menace to public safety, period, and should be sitting in prison.
That won’t happen.
The community, and more importantly, the victims, will have to live with the consequences of this sentence.” The sentencing has raised questions about the adequacy of punishment for violent crimes, particularly those that leave lasting physical and emotional scars.
Critics argue that the decision to grant probation undermines the severity of the crime and sends the wrong message about accountability for such violent actions. As of now, the case has drawn no further legal action, and the community must now come to terms with the consequences of the controversial sentence.
The victim’s life has been irrevocably altered, and her family must cope with the trauma of having witnessed such a violent act, while many in the community are left questioning the fairness of the judicial process.
This case will likely continue to fuel discussions on sentencing reform, especially in cases involving violent and sexually motivated offenses, as advocates for tougher penalties call for a reevaluation of how such crimes are punished.