Crime & Safety

Marin Man Found Guilty of Attempted Murder in Sonoma County

Man accused in connection with incident occurred at Santa Rosa apartment complex.

BY BAY CITY NEWS SERVICE

A San Rafael man was found guilty Friday of attempted murder and other felony charges in connection with an incident in which he threatened and attacked several people at a Santa Rosa apartment complex, according to prosecutors.

James Lewis Christian, 67, was found guilty by a jury of charges including attempted murder, residential burglary, assault with a firearm and assault with a knife, according to District Attorney Jill Ravitch.

Christian drove while drunk from San Rafael to Santa Rosa on June 8, 2012 intending to confront and kill several people he believed had stolen his car and other property, prosecutors said. He was armed with an antique shotgun and two knives, and when he arrived at the apartment complex where he believed his targets lived, he encountered a man and woman in the parking lot, prosecutors said.

He pointed a shotgun at the pair, who had no connection to his targets, and attempted to fire it. When it didn't fire, he pulled out a knife and struck the male in the chest, causing a non-life threatening injury, prosecutors said.

He then walked to the apartment of his targets and entered, but left again when he heard approaching sirens.

Police arrested him outside the apartment, prosecutors said. Christian faces a potential sentence of 23 years and four months in state prison, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 5, prosecutors said.


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