July 2, 2009 CASE UPDATES: July 2009State v. Gonzalez-Guzman: Defendant Sergio Gonzalez-Guzman was convicted of Assault of a Child in the First Degree for violently shaking his son while angry at him. The child suffered massive brain injury, rib fractures, a broken leg, and has permanent injuries as a result of the assault. The defendant now faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. Senior DPA Steven Kim handled the prosecution of this case. Return to the News State v. Marston: Defendant Larry Marston was convicted of Assault in the First Degree with a Deadly Weapon for stabbing his live-in girlfriend in the chest. After the stabbing, the defendant called 911 and unsuccessfully claimed self-defense at trial. He now faces 9 to 12 years in prison. DPA Ben Santos handled the prosecution of this case. Return to the News State v. Muriuki: Defendant Jackson Muriuki was convicted of Felony DUI. The defendant also has a 2006 conviction for vehicular assault and a previous conviction for DUI. The defendant's most recent conviction stems from a June 17, 2008 driving incident where the defendant was pulled over after police witnessed his seemingly aborted u-turn. Once stopped, the defendant refused a breath test, but his performance in field sobriety tests indicated that he was impaired. This repeat DUI offender is now looking at a standard range sentence of 15-20 months in prison under the State's new felony DUI statute, which makes DUI a felony if the defendant had four or more prior incidents within the previous 10 years. DPA Kathy Ungerman handled the prosecution of this case. Return to the News State v. Njonge: Defendant Joseph Njonge was convicted of Murder in the Second Degree for strangling to death 75 year-old Jane Britt, whose husband, Frank, was being cared for in the nursing home where Njonge worked. After the crime, Njonge was found in possession of some of Frank Britt's belongings, and DNA testing later revealed that Njonge's skin was under Mrs. Britt's fingernails. Under Washington State's determinate sentencing system, he now faces 10 to18 years in prison. Senior DPA Carla Carlstrom handled the prosecution of this case. Return to the News State v. Norman: Defendant Omar Norman was convicted of Murder in the First Degree for the 2005 fatal shooting of reputed Deuce Eight gang leader Terrell Milam. Norman and Milam were riding in a car together, along with a third man, when Milam recounted to Norman his involvement in shooting a rival gang member. That shooting victim turned out to be the brother of the third man in the car. Norman responded to Milam's admission by shooting him in the head and dumping his body on the street. Norman was a founding member of the Low Profile gang sect, an off-shoot of the Deuce Eights. The defendant now faces over 50 years in prison at sentencing. Senior DPA John Castleton handled the prosecution of this case. Return to the News | 