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31 years in prison for man who shot into family home
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
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2 p.m.The man who shot up a Dry Creek home in 2007 was sentenced to 31 years, four months in state prison.

Willis Creech, sentenced last week, must serve about 27 years before he is eligible for parole, according to deputy district attorney Allison Haley, who prosecuted the case.
Creech, 31, who lived in Modesto at the time of the shooting, was found guilty of shooting into his Napa father-in-law’s home, where his wife and two young children had gone to take refuge from him last September.

A Napa jury found Creech guilty last may of felony assault with a firearm, four counts of shooting into an inhabited dwelling, two counts of child endangerment and five special allegations of use of a firearm.
On Sept. 14, 2007, following an argument between Creech and his wife, Reanna, she took their 4-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son and drove from Modesto to her father’s home on Dry Creek Road.

When she arrived, Creech was waiting for her at the gate leading into the property. Deputies were called and told Creech to leave, which he did. The deputies had also told him not to return to the property.
Creech returned the next day, however, armed with a shotgun. At that time, his wife, children, Reanna’s step-mother and step-sister were inside the house.

The couple’s 4-year-old had gone into the bedroom when her mother heard a loud bang coming from the room.

At trial, Reanna said she saw Creech with a shotgun at a window next to the front door. She shouted a warning to the rest of the house. She said she dragged her son to the floor and eventually took refuge in a bathroom with a high window.

Investigators said one of adult females inside the home ran to lock the front door as Creech was approaching. Just as she locked the door, Creech fired another gunshot blast at the front door. The woman called 911. No one was injured.

Creech fled the scene. Detectives traced him to Newark, the South Bay city where his parents live. When they arrived at his parents’ home, they were told Creech had swallowed a bottle of pills in an attempt to commit suicide. He was taken to a local hospital.

After Creech was medically cleared, he was arrested, taken into custody by Napa County Sheriff’s deputies, returned to Napa County and booked into the county jail.

Napa County Superior Court Judge Diane Price said the victims — Creech’s wife, Reanna, their children, Reanna’s stepsister and stepmother, were exceptionally vulnerable, according to Haley.

When Creech began shooting into the residence, “they had no place to go. They were trapped,” Haley said.

The crime took planning and was done with sophistication, Haley said. “He purchased a shotgun, drove from the family home in Modesto to Napa. He drove over two hours. He had a map. After the shooting, he destroyed the weapon with a hacksaw he purchased. He rented the vehicle he drove to Napa.”
10 comment(s)

GetReal! wrote on Jul 22, 2008 2:27 PM:

" Sophistication? I mean if the guy watches any tv or movies then he would know to how to sneak up to the house unnoticed. And shooting up the house? I've seen more sophistication on the Cartoon Network. Haphazard would be more realistic. At any rate, I am glad no one got hurt and that he is doing some long hard time. Justice has been served! I hope his ex and children have taken up new identities and moved on with their lives. "

tvchick wrote on Jul 22, 2008 2:32 PM:

" JUSTICE IS SERVED. I wish it was more time. This man planned to murder his family. This is what happens when women try to leave a domestic violence situation. That is why many stay and live in fear, fear of death, or sometimes living with it is worse. I hope this is a wake up call to all batterers. This violence against loved ones will not be tolerated, thats why we see so many articles in the Register about the arrests of domestic violence. This man had a history of DV.Thank God he can't hurt his family any more. May he rot in jail, or better yet-hope he finds a nice "girlfriend" in jail! How sad is it to be at war with another country and we have people beating and killing their loved ones here at home. So sad. Best wishes to the family, time to heal. "

kevin wrote on Jul 22, 2008 2:56 PM:

" Can't but help wonder how long he would have got had he actually HIT someone... "

newmom wrote on Jul 22, 2008 9:51 PM:

" did anyone ever consider the psychy of the man? Could he need help? without all the facts i find it hard to throw stones... but then again i do not live in a glass house. "

wowquebonita wrote on Jul 22, 2008 10:10 PM:

" This family was very fortunate no one was killed. I wish them the best. "

MarkMiwords wrote on Jul 23, 2008 6:46 AM:

" I find it interesting that Newmom would care about the psyche of the perp. It is obvious he had a "screw loose". He tried to kill 5 people and himself. Maybe he will find "rehabilitation" in jail. I am more worried about the psyches of the victims. They have 27 to 31 years to emotionally recover which sounds like a long time. But if it was me, I'd still be living in fear of the day he got out. I'd be counting down the months and years. This kind of conditioned fear just doesn't go away. "

marine1/1 wrote on Jul 23, 2008 9:29 AM:

" 31 years for shooting and not hurting anyone VS 16 years for brutally stabbing a Napa man serving in uniform and killing him? If you read the headline down further, I do not see how a man that stabbed someone 15 times and killed another receives a 16 year sentance and a crazy guy with family problems that shoots into a house with his wife and kids and does not physically hurt anyone gets sentanced to 31 years.The other guy KILLED someone with several witnesses.Sure ,the guy in the story could have killed his family but luckily didn't and he is serving more time.I think he should spend many years in prision but seeing these two headlines together makes me wonder about our court and legal process. "

hoozcryinow wrote on Jul 23, 2008 1:58 PM:

" 14obama-I pretty much agree with yours and Marine1/1's comments , but I need to ask: What does the fact that the attorney and judge were women have to do with anything? I'm glad this guy got what he did. The harm done to those kids warrants that. "

tvchick wrote on Jul 23, 2008 4:41 PM:

" anyone who thinks this man didn't hurt anyone is an IDIOT!!!!
Have fun in jail. "

rayintracyca wrote on Apr 2, 2009 7:31 PM:

" Willis is my cousin and I grew up with him. I have watched him suffer the disapearance of his brother, go through a really bad relationship from both sides, and save his father's life by giving up over half of his liver. He went crazy when he was refused access to his children. Please take time to think that everything you see and read in the news is always one-sided. He needed help, not 32 years in prison. "

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