Prentice Foreman sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, mistrail motion withdrawn

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The oldest cold case in Kern County has officially come to an end. The case of Dawn Koons, the 18-year-old who was killed in a central Bakersfield apartment in 1979, has been put to rest.

Wednesday Prentice Foreman, who was found guilty of the murder on June 5th, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for first degree murder.

Foreman sat somberly in the courtroom as his sentencing came down. Foreman's Defense Attorney Dana Steven Kinnison withdrew his motion today for a mistrial and asked the court to grant Foreman probation. He said because the case was unusual in many ways.

Deputy District Attorney Gina Pearl argued that probation for such a violent crime would be "ridiculous." She also stated that Foreman had a history of violence and has been convicted 15 times since 1978.

Pearl said that sentencing was fair for this case and she was pleased with the sentence. Pearl also said that she says she hopes that this is a message to any families of cold cases and that this brings them hope.

Prentice Foreman's sister, Phyllis Willis, responded to the sentencing: "We ask and hope in the future that he can get an appeal and that the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me God will all come out."