San Francisco, CA

Prosecuting a SF repeat offender: How 1st bait car arrest gets out of jail again and again

Published

10 months ago

November 22, 2023

Prosecuting a SF repeat offender: How 1st bait car arrest gets out of jail again and again

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — The I-Team has obtained exclusive crime scene photos showing the aftermath of a wild ride through San Francisco’s North Beach. This case from April 2022 involves the same person, who is now the first suspect arrested under the SFPD’s new bait car campaign.

“We try really hard to catch people doing, you know, these car break-ins,” San Francisco Police Officer Riley Bandy told the ABC7 I-Team. “This is the scourge of the city.”

Bandy got injured trying to stop a car burglar.

The first man arrested under the latest bait car campaign has a long criminal record, including that crazy night in 2022. When we first told the story last month, some viewers asked us for more information: How this defendant was able to get back on the streets so quickly after such a serious incident?

1st arrest made in bait car campaign, SFPD’s renewed effort to prevent vehicle break-ins

SFPD made its first arrest during its bait car campaign to prevent vehicle break-ins: 26-year-old Robert Sonza.

We first look at a crime scene that spanned several blocks in San Francisco’s North Beach. It didn’t receive much media coverage. After 9:30 p.m. on a Tuesday night in April 2022, police spotted a stolen SUV used in multiple car break-ins that day.

“The police sort of trapped him,” said North Beach resident Patrick Rylee. “This is a one way street. They trapped him down there.”

Police had the suspect, 24-year-old Robert Sonza, in a dead-end on Union Street past Montgomery, but he rammed the SUV into a patrol car, and sped away. He took out a garage on Alta Street, sideswiped cars and returned to the intersection where Bandy had just pulled up, getting out of his patrol car.

MORE: Car break-in victim tracks stolen camera and gear to SF, gets surprising response from police

RILEY BANDY: “He just headed right straight for my car and tried to run me over, so I had to jump back into my car to avoid getting killed.”

DAN NOYES: “He was aiming for you.”

RILEY BANDY: “Yeah.”

DAN NOYES: “For your body?”

RILEY BANDY: “Oh, yeah. So, I had to jump back in, and he slammed right into my car. And if I waited a second more, I’d have been dead. So, and then, he did it again. I was trying to get out the car. Same thing. He backed up, did it again.”

Bandy left by ambulance, and says he still feels the effects of the back injury he suffered that night. Next, Sonza drove onto the sidewalk, hit this staircase, took out a Vespa, made it to Columbus and Broadway where he slammed into a civilian’s car injuring him. Sonza ran from that scene, officers finally catching him a few blocks away in Chinatown.

MORE: After 15,000 car break-ins so far in 2023, SF leaders brainstorm ways to end epidemic

Officer Bandy tells us, “He victimized a lot of people that day, wasn’t just me.”

At first, prosecutors charged Sonza with several counts of “Assault upon a peace officer with a deadly weapon,” “Hit and run,” “Evading an officer with willful disregard,” “Leaving the scene of an accident,” “Resisting arrest” and a misdemeanor, “Possession of burglar tools.”

In a plea deal, all the charges got dismissed, except a single count of “Evading an officer”.

“I was really surprised to know that they, that they really dropped, you know, almost everything,” Bandy said.

That court proceeding also included an incident from February 2nd of last year. Police responded to the Japantown Garage for a report of an auto burglary. Officers tried to detain Sonza as the suspect, but he fled — got in his car, ran over an officer’s foot, and hit a parked car.

MORE: Tourist’s car burglarized near where SFPD announced new tact to crack down on car break-ins

That case brought nine more charges, including “Assault upon a peace officer,” “Burglary of a vehicle,” “Hit and run,” and “Resisting arrest.”

We wanted to find out why all those charges were dropped — except for a single “Evading” — in two incidents that injured officers and a civilian, and did all that damage to homes and cars.

District Attorney Brooke Jenkins discussed the case with us, saying, “I certainly don’t want to see any officer injured while doing their job.”

But through their offices, the public defender, Sylvia Nguyen; the prosecutor on the case, Farrah Zarea; and the judge, Linda Colfax, declined my requests for an interview.

The hearing transcripts show that the probation department did not agree with their plea deal that would let Robert Sonza avoid prison time by participating in a residential program: “Probation instead recommended that he be sentenced to serve his time in prison.”

MORE: Video shows thieves break into 3 cars in less than 2 minutes near Fisherman’s Wharf

Video shows thieves breaking into three cars in less than two minutes near Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.

Still, Sonza got out with time served — a little over six months in jail.

DAN NOYES: “How did that happen? Is that a good outcome, do you think?”

BROOKE JENKINS: “So, I have looked at that case briefly. I was left with concern about that plea. It is not something that on its face, I believe, I would have done.”

This case began under former prosecutor Chesa Boudin, before his recall, but it wrapped up in the early months of Brooke Jenkins’ administration.

“There was a culture that had been established here by the prior administration of very lenient plea offers,” Jenkins said. “And it takes time to sort of correct course, to have lawyers understand the true value of a case, the true public safety risks that certain people pose.”

MORE: SF business owner hands out ‘do not break into this car’ signs to protect customers

Sonza got arrested again Sept. 1. He’s accused of breaking into a bait car and taking “Burberry Bags belonging to San Francisco Police Department.” On the same day, he was also charged with breaking into two rental cars, including one with out-of-state plates at a parking lot along the Embarcadero.

Linda and Dan Oldiges lost cash, a $1,200 iPad, and a $3,500 laptop.

DAN NOYES: “Does it mean anything at all that the police were able to catch your guy with their bait car? It worked. I mean, their law enforcement technique worked.”

DAN OLDIGES: “Well, it does. But then, you know, let’s see what happens to this guy. Because, you know, it wasn’t his first rodeo. You know, it’s a professional job. What are they going to do? Slap them on the wrist and let them out in a couple months?”

INTERACTIVE: Take a look at the ABC7 Neighborhood Safety Tracker

One other twist in this case: the court asked Officer Bandy to write a victim impact statement that he read for us.

“‘I request leniency be granted to Mr. Sonza and that the charges be dropped,’ I said. ‘Mercy always triumphs against judgment. Let us end 2022 with mercy and forgiveness and grant Mr. Sonza his freedom.’”

There is no indication from the transcripts that the judge considered Bandy’s statement, or even read it.

“Between him and I, there’s forgiveness, you know,” Bandy said. “I had no idea that he would go out and do it immediately again as soon as he got out. That’s the Bay Area for you, though. These crimes happen so often.”

Sonza has a trial date at the end of December. It will probably push into the new year. In the meantime, he remains in San Francisco County jail.

Take a look at more stories by the ABC7 News I-Team.

If you’re on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live

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5 things to watch when Patriots play San Francisco 49ers

Published

6 hours ago

September 28, 2024

Press Room

5 things to watch when Patriots play San Francisco 49ers

FOXBOROUGH – This isn’t where the Patriots wanted to be, but after two losses in a row, the show must go on.

On Friday, the Patriots left New England for a cross-country trip to San Francisco to take on a talented 49ers team. After a strong start and upset win, to start the season, Jerod Mayo’s team is coming off a blowout loss to the New York Jets.

Now, they’ll take on the NFC favorites, on the road.

The 49ers have a roster full of elite players but are also dealing with health issues. San Francisco’s offense will be without All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey and Pro Bowl receiver Deebo Samuel. On top of that, four Pro Bowlers – tight end George Kittle (hamstring), tackle Trent Williams (illness), defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (triceps), and quarterback Brock Purdy (back) – were on the injury report this week.

The Patriots must turn the page and forget about their performance in New York.

“What I will say is the challenge for us is just in the front: offensive line and defensive line. I don’t want to sound repetitive, but they are a do-what-they-do type of team, and we know what they’re going to do, the fans know what they’re going to do, but you still have to stop them,” Mayo said. “They have a lot of good players on that team, offensively and defensively, All-Pro-caliber players almost at every level if you really look at the roster. So, it’s definitely a challenge, and I think the guys – I tell them all the time, look at it as an opportunity to go out there and perform.”

Here are five things to watch when the Patriots take on the 49ers:

Brandon Aiyuk

This matchup is like when you see someone in public who once rejected your advances and hope to show them what they’re missing.

The Patriots had a trade in place with the 49ers to acquire All-Pro receiver Brandon Aiyuk. They even had a contract offer on the table that would’ve reportedly made him one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL.

Instead, Aiyuk rejected the Patriots, used them as leverage, and ended up re-signing with the 49ers for less money.

Ouch.

The Patriots will get a chance to see Aiyuk on Sunday. It’ll be fascinating to see if Christian Gonzalez can slow down the receiver. Aiyuk clearly didn’t think much of the Patriots roster. We’ll see how they respond.

Jacoby Brissett

The Patriots passing attack is ranked last in the NFL, averaging 102 passing yards per game. Of course, the team is also ranked first in the NFL in interception rate (0.0%).

Jacoby Brissett has a tough job. He’s being used as a piñata this season, taking hits from opposing defenses while keeping the seat warm for Drake Maye. The veteran hasn’t exactly lit up the stat sheet this season, but he’s also not making too many egregious mistakes.

Out of all quarterbacks, who’ve started three games, Brissett is last in the NFL with 368 passing yards, but his interception percentage of zero is tied for first. The 49ers are ranked 20th in the NFL in passing defense. They’ve allowed 217.7 passing yards per game.

We’ll see if Brissett can put together a better effort this time.

Offensive line

Brissett has been sacked at an alarming rate this season.

Entering this week, he’s fourth in the NFL in sack percentage (the times sacked on plays where he’s supposed to pass the ball). Last week, he was sacked five times and hit 12 times overall.

That won’t work on Sunday. San Francisco has one of the better pass rushes in the NFL. Four-time Pro Bowler and former Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa anchors this defensive line. On Thursday, Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt called Bosa a “nightmare.”

The Patriots should be getting back left guard Sidy Sow this week. That’s positive. However, they’ll likely start third-string left tackle Caedan Wallace. He’s been elevated due to Vederian Lowe’s knee injury and Chuks Okorafor leaving the team.

We’ll see if the results are any different.

Rhamondre Stevenson

The San Francisco 49ers have one of the best-run defenses in the NFL. They head into this game ranked ninth in the league, allowing 104 yards per game on the ground. Opposing teams, however, are averaging 4.52 yards per carry against the 49ers – and that’s 21st in the league.

That brings us to Rhamondre Stevenson.

He’s arguably the Patriots best offensive player. He’s why the Patriots offense didn’t look putrid in the first two weeks. However, he’s fumbled three games in a row. That’s bad news because after going away from the run last week, the Patriots need to hammer the ground game again.

Will Stevenson bounce back? It’s the Patriots best bet to move the football, so they are probably hoping he does.

Defensive performance

Expectations for the Patriots offense were already low. The big hope for this year’s team was that the defense would be a top-10 unit. However, they haven’t looked the part in the past two games.

Now, they enter this week ranked tenth in points allowed (19.0 per game) so that’s solid. The defense struggled the past two weeks against Aaron Rodgers and Geno Smith. Their passing defense is currently ranked 27th in the NFL while their run defense is among the best at No. 5.

Last week, the Patriots struggled to tackle, so that needs to improve on Sunday. They also need more turnovers and sacks. So far, the secondary has zero interceptions while the group is 22nd in sacks per pass attempt.

Can the Patriots defense turn it around in San Francisco?

Prediction: 49ers 23, Patriots 16

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St. Louis Cardinals at San Francisco Giants — A game thread for September 27, 2024

Published

15 hours ago

September 27, 2024

Press Room

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Dbacks Lose Series to San Francisco Giants

Published

24 hours ago

September 27, 2024

Press Room

Dbacks Lose Series to San Francisco Giants

The Arizona Diamondbacks faced a challenging series against the San Francisco Giants, leaving fans with mixed emotions and heightened anxiety as the playoff race intensified. In a critical weekend for the team’s postseason chances, the Diamondbacks dropped two out of three games to the Giants, bringing a wave of frustration and doubt to the fan base. This series loss, paired with inconsistent performances, has left many wondering if Arizona’s playoff dreams are slipping away.

Game 2 of the series was a breaking point for both fans and the podcast hosts of Dbacks Dispatch. The Diamondbacks suffered a brutal 11-0 loss to the Giants, leading to heightened concern about the team’s chances. “That was the most down I’ve been all season,” Brandon admitted, capturing the collective sentiment of many Arizona supporters.

Despite holding on to postseason hopes, the tone was one of uncertainty. As Brandon pointed out, “Even if we make it in, I’m not feeling confident.” The crushing loss highlighted issues that have plagued the team for weeks, including pitching struggles and inconsistent offense.

Zac Gallen’s stellar performance in Game 3 was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise tough series. In what many viewed as a must-win game, Gallen delivered under pressure. “This was probably the biggest game of the season, and one of the biggest of his career,” Gabriel noted, praising Gallen’s ability to settle in after a rough start.

The right-hander managed to keep the Giants at bay, giving Arizona a chance to salvage the series. However, concerns lingered about the team’s bullpen, which has been stretched thin in recent weeks. “Our bullpen is absolutely exhausted right now,” Brandon pointed out, referencing the frequent use of relievers like Justin Martinez, who has struggled lately.

The upcoming series against the San Diego Padres looms large for the Dbacks. With only a few games remaining, Arizona’s playoff hopes are far from secure. The hosts of Dbacks Dispatch discussed the anxiety surrounding these final games, emphasizing that every game is now a must-win. “The amount of anxiety this is going to cause…my anxiety is at like fifty,” Gabriel said, a sentiment likely shared by many in the fanbase.

The Diamondbacks need a series win to secure a wild-card spot, but even then, they may need help from other teams. As Gabriel explained, “We might not even know if they’re in until late Monday night.” The uncertainty has left fans on edge, with little room for error as the season winds down.

One of the biggest questions surrounding the team is how they manage their roster, particularly key players like Zac Gallen. There’s speculation about whether Gallen should be used out of the bullpen if necessary, given the team’s dire situation. “Do they try him on Sunday if we’re still in it and need to win?” Brandon asked. The dilemma revolves around whether to sacrifice Gallen’s availability for the wild-card game to secure a win in the final series.

Other lineup decisions, such as resting key players like Ketel Marte and Lourdes Gurriel Jr., have sparked debate. Fans were vocal about their displeasure with Marte’s absence in a critical game earlier in the series, even though Marte reportedly asked for a rest day. As Gabriel summarized, “If our best players aren’t playing, we’re managing ourselves out of the playoffs.”

If the Diamondbacks fail to make the playoffs, will the season be considered a failure? The hosts of Dbacks Dispatch were unanimous in their assessment. “Complete failure,” Oscar said, echoing the sentiments of many fans who expected more from a team that reached the World Series just last year. “If you don’t make the playoffs, it’s a disappointment,” Oscar added, citing the team’s high expectations and significant offseason spending.

Despite some progress, such as standout performances from young players, the overarching feeling is that missing the playoffs would negate much of the success seen during the season. “This isn’t 2022. This team was expected to make the playoffs,” Brandon remarked, highlighting the heightened stakes this year.

As the Diamondbacks head into their final series of the season against the Padres, the pressure couldn’t be higher. A sweep could not only secure a playoff spot but potentially give them home-field advantage in the wild-card round. However, anything less than a series win may leave the team relying on help from other teams, a position no one wants to be in.

Gabriel encapsulated the situation perfectly: “It’s all hands on deck at this point.” Fans and players alike are bracing for a weekend filled with stress, anxiety, and hopefully, triumph as Arizona’s postseason fate hangs in the balance.

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