A parking lot dispute in West Santa Rosa has ended with a life sentence for a local man. Forty-three-year-old Steven Strawn was sentenced Wednesday to 50-years-to-life in prison following a violent confrontation involving an assault rifle.
The incident dates back to September 2024 at the Dutton Plaza shopping center. Prosecutors say Strawn opened fire from a vehicle during an argument, sending several rounds flying through the busy area near Sebastopol Road. While miraculously no one was hit, police caught Strawn moments later as he struggled to clear a jam in his rifle.
Because Strawn had three prior serious convictions on his record, California’s “Three Strikes” law significantly increased his sentence. A jury ultimately found him guilty of attempted murder and multiple weapons charges.
