Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 10/10/08

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Hilary Moores - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Christine M. Cook

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATOR COMMITTED TO STATE HOSPITAL

Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced that yesterday Sven Fjeld-Erichsen was sentenced to an indeterminate term as a Sexually Violent Predator.  Fjeld-Erichsen will be sent to a State Hospital for treatment where he will remain until it is determined that he no longer poses a risk of harm to the community.  The sentence follows a Sonoma County jury’s verdict on September 9, 2008 finding Fjeld-Erichsen to be a Sexually Violent Predator.

District Attorney Passalacqua said, “This individual has repeatedly preyed on children.  We are pleased that a Sonoma County jury agreed with our assessment that he poses a danger to the community.”

Mr. Fjeld-Erichsen was convicted in 1987 of committing a lewd and lascivious act upon a 8 year old chil, a violation of Penal Code Section 288(a).  He was originally placed on probation.  He later violated the terms of his probation, however, and was ultimately sentenced to prison.  He served a six year prison sentence and was paroled.  While on parole, Mr. Fjeld-Erichsen committed several new sexual crimes against two additional victims.  In 1995, he was convicted of several counts of committing sodomy and oral copulation upon a minor as well as two counts of sending harmful matter to a minor.  He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

At the recent jury trial, there was testimony by two Psychologists from the Department of Mental Health, as well as a Psychologist for the defendant.  The jury found Mr. Fjeld-Erichsen posed a substantial risk of re-offense and found him to be a Sexually Violent Predator.

The matter was handled by Deputy District Attorney Tashawn Sanders.