Gang member gets prison in Santa Rosa home invasion robbery

A Rohnert Park man with sureño gang ties was sentenced Thursday to more than 18 years in state prison for a violent 2013 home invasion robbery.

Christian Sanchez-Caballero, 21, was one of two gunmen who gained entry to a home near Coddingtown Mall by posing as pizza delivery drivers on May 15, 2013. The home was occupied by three young adults, a male and two females.

Sanchez-Caballero pleaded guilty to two counts of first- degree robbery in June in a deal in which burglary and kidnapping charges were dropped.

Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch said in a statement Thursday that the conviction of Sanchez-Caballero brings “a measure of closure for the courageous victims” and affirms her office’s commitment to aggressively prosecute gang violence.

“This prison commitment appropriately punishes this violent offender,” Ravitch said in the statement.

Superior Court Judge Jamie Thistlethwaite handed down the sentence.

During the robbery, Sanchez- Caballero and a second male suspect forced their way into the home armed with handguns and each wearing ski masks and gloves, officials said.

The suspects ordered the victims into a bathroom and had them remove their clothing. One of the suspects held the three victims at gunpoint while the other went through the home, taking jewelry, cash and other valuable items.

One of the suspects pistol-whipped the male victim with the butt of his handgun, officials said.

Sanchez-Caballero later was identified through forensic DNA and fingerprint analysis. The second suspect was never identified, a spokesman for the District Attorney’s Office said.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Jamie Kandel.

You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @renofish.