Valerie Saenz, a local resident of Santa Rosa, was sentenced to nine years in state prison yesterday for her involvement in a shooting that took place in the vicinity of the Union Hotel in 2022. While Saenz did not personally fire the weapon during the incident, her role as an accomplice in planning the crime led to her receiving this sentence by Judge Troye Shaffer. All of this information was derived from the official report provided by the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office.
Investigators unveiled that Saenz and a man named Marcell Battiest conspired to rob a fellow Santa Rosa resident, Sergio Mora-Morfin, of marijuana in October 2022. Battiest, posing as a "buyer," ended up shooting both Mora-Morfin and his friend, Garcia-Polvos. This violent act was part of a plan devised by Saenz and Battiest, using Saenz's established relationship with Mora-Morfin as a ruse.
The victims were critically injured but survived the incident. Saenz and Battiest tossed the 9mm firearm used in the crime from their getaway vehicle, which investigators collected later. It wasn't until November 2, 2022, that the duo was apprehended and charged for their actions.
The jury convicted Battiest in September, and his sentencing is expected on December 13.
While Saenz has a nine-year sentence, she may qualify for parole earlier than anticipated—approximately three years into her term—as per Proposition 57, passed in 2016. According to the legislation, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation would categorize Saenz as a "non-violent" offender, making her eligible for early parole consideration.
