Man pleads guilty to Sonoma State University fatal dorm room stabbing

A 20-year-old Santa Rosa man who said he was defending himself and a friend when he fatally stabbed an intruder in a Sonoma State University dorm room has pleaded guilty to felony involuntary manslaughter.

Tyler Bratton will be released from Sonoma County Jail in October when he is sentenced for the May 13 killing of Steven John Garcia, 26, according to the terms of a plea agreement reached with prosecutors late last week, Sonoma County Chief Deputy District Attorney Spencer Brady said. Bratton has been in jail since May 14.

Garcia had forced his way into the dorm room of Sonoma State University freshman Riley O’Rourke when Bratton tried to stop him, according to O’Rourke’s testimony during a preliminary hearing.

Garcia grabbed Bratton by the neck and Bratton pulled out a knife, she said.

The dorm room confrontation followed an argument between O’Rourke and another woman, Rebecca Stjern, outside a Santa Rosa house where a group of young people had been partying and drinking, and again at a grocery store parking lot, according to police and O’Rourke.

Bratton went with O’Rourke back to her dorm room after the confrontation because they anticipated further issues with Stjern, who had threatened O’Rourke and said: “You’re getting your ass whooped,” according to the court testimony.

Stjern showed up at the dorm room the next morning, but left and returned later in the evening with Garcia, O’Rourke said.

Bratton pleaded guilty Thursday in Sonoma County Superior Court to involuntary manslaughter and unlawfully possessing a knife on a school campus.

Bratton will have spent 157 days in jail on Oct. 17 when he will be sentenced by Judge Robert LaForge. If LaForge approves the settlement agreement, Bratton will be given credit for time served, released from jail and placed on three years’ probation.

Bratton’s attorney Lynette Brown said she thinks her client acted in defense of his and O’Rourke’s lives.

“This was a very defensible case, and were the case to go to trial, I think there’s a strong possibility he would be acquitted,” Brown said. “But there are never any guarantees, and the district attorney made an offer that involved him getting out, which is what he chose to do.”

You can reach Staff Writer Julie Johnson at 707-521-5220 or ?julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @jjpressdem.