A man who killed his girlfriend at a Moorpark hotel in 2020 has been sentenced to 11 years in state prison.
William Koznar, a 37-year-old Moorpark resident, was sentenced May 5 after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter as part of an agreement with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, according to court records.
Koznar initially pleaded not guilty to murder and was awaiting a jury trial. On March 24, however, he agreed to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Records show he also admitted guilt to the special allegations that the crime involved great violence and that the victim was vulnerable.
The murder charge was dismissed.
Ventura County Superior Court Judge Catherine Voelker imposed the upper term of 11 years in state prison, as agreed upon by the prosecution and defense, and recommended Koznar participate in drug counseling or educational programs.
Records indicate he will be sent to Wasco State Prison and receive credit for nearly 6½ years.
Koznar is accused of killing Sara Goodwin, 36, of Modesto, at the Fairfield Inn & Suites at 14350 White Sage Road on Oct. 7, 2020, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to the hotel after staff reported a disturbance in the lobby. Deputies said they discovered Goodwin unconscious in the hotel room she had shared with Koznar, and she was pronounced deceased at Adventist Health Simi Valley.
Three of Goodwin’s family members gave victim impact statements during the sentencing.
Makena Huey is an investigative and watchdog reporter for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at makena.huey@vcstar.com. This story was made possible by a grant from the Ventura County Community Foundation’s Fund to Support Local Journalism.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Man sentenced to 11 years for killing girlfriend at Moorpark hotel
Reporting by Makena Huey, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
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