Schwarzenegger commutes sentence of son of former Politcal ally

Trajan

conscientia mille testes
Jun 17, 2010
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The Bay Area Soviet
I don't understand this, at all, note that he received the 16 tear sentence as the result of a plea bargain to boot.



Schwarzenegger commutes Esteban Núñez's sentence

Carolyn Jones, Chronicle Staff Writer
Monday, January 3, 2011

In the waning hours of his term, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger commuted the prison sentence Sunday of the son of a political ally, former Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, in connection with the fatal stabbing of a college student from Concord.

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Schwarzenegger reduced Esteban Núñez's sentence from 16 years to seven years, calling it excessive because the young man - who pleaded guilty to charges including voluntary manslaughter - did not personally stab the victim and had no prior criminal record.

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Núñez's father, a Democrat, served two terms as speaker of the Assembly, from 2004 to 2008. Though he initially sparred with Schwarzenegger, the two ultimately became close and struck deals on bills to increase the minimum wage and curb greenhouse gases.

Read more: Schwarzenegger commutes Esteban Núñez's sentence
 
heres a fairly adept explanation....

It’s important to note that the 16-year sentence for the murder came as a result of a plea bargain. Prosecutors had planned to try Nunez and Ryan Jett for murder for the stabbing death of Santos after Nunez and Jett were barred from entering a frat party. They had two witnesses ready to testify, and Nunez could have ended up with a life sentence for his role in the killing. Instead, prosecutors cut the deal for a guilty plea to voluntary manslaughter and assault, which carries a 16-year maximum sentence.

Two months ago, Nunez’ attorneys tried getting the judge to reduce the sentence, arguing that Jett actually committed the murder. However, as part of the same assault, Nunez stabbed two other people, who survived. California law holds that anyone participating in the commission of a felony that leads to murder is as legally responsible for murder as the actual killer, and in this case it seems like pure luck that Nunez didn’t kill anyone himself in the melee. Nunez also participated in destroying evidence tying he and Jett back to the crime.

The judge refused to reduce the sentence to the 7-11 years Nunez and his family said they expected. Instead, the Pardonator has decided to give Nunez the low end of what the perpetrator thinks is justice.

Schwarzenegger commutes sentence for son of political ally on last day Hot Air
 
heres a fairly adept explanation....

It’s important to note that the 16-year sentence for the murder came as a result of a plea bargain. Prosecutors had planned to try Nunez and Ryan Jett for murder for the stabbing death of Santos after Nunez and Jett were barred from entering a frat party. They had two witnesses ready to testify, and Nunez could have ended up with a life sentence for his role in the killing. Instead, prosecutors cut the deal for a guilty plea to voluntary manslaughter and assault, which carries a 16-year maximum sentence.

Two months ago, Nunez’ attorneys tried getting the judge to reduce the sentence, arguing that Jett actually committed the murder. However, as part of the same assault, Nunez stabbed two other people, who survived. California law holds that anyone participating in the commission of a felony that leads to murder is as legally responsible for murder as the actual killer, and in this case it seems like pure luck that Nunez didn’t kill anyone himself in the melee. Nunez also participated in destroying evidence tying he and Jett back to the crime.

The judge refused to reduce the sentence to the 7-11 years Nunez and his family said they expected. Instead, the Pardonator has decided to give Nunez the low end of what the perpetrator thinks is justice.

Schwarzenegger commutes sentence for son of political ally on last day Hot Air

It's still a big sentence. 7 years is no joke. IMHO they locked up to many people in California for to long.
 
Now I understand why Orin Hatch wanted to change the constitution so that Arnold could become president.
 

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