Death of Louis Santos

Luis Santos (Luis Felipe Watson dos Santos) (June 27, 1986 – October 4, 2008) was a 22-year-old Mesa College student, fatally stabbed near San Diego State University campus on October 4, 2008.[1]

Death of Luis Santos
LocationSan Diego State University, San Diego, California
DateOctober 4, 2008 (2008-10-04)
Victim1 (Luis Santos)
PerpetratorEsteban Núñez

Controversies
Fabian Núñez, 66th Speaker of the California State Assembly and father of one of the perpetrators

Fabian Núñez's Influence

One of the men convicted in his death was Esteban Núñez, who pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, and was sentenced to 16 years in prison.[2][3] Núñez’s father, then California Assembly Speaker of the House, Fabian Núñez, was a close friend and staunch political ally of then governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.[4][5][6]

When Esteban Núñez was first arrested, his father's political influence was evident as many letters pleading for a reduction in his son's $2-million bail were sent to the San Diego County Superior Court.[7] One letter, on official stationery, came from Núñez's longtime friend, then Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; one letter came on official stationery from Maria Elena Durazo, head of the L.A. County Federation of Labor; one came from California Assembly Republican Leader Michael Villines, and was sent by California State Assemblyman Kevin de León.[7][8] Ultimately, his bail was reduced to $1 million.[9]

Commutation by Schwarzenegger

As a personal favor to “a friend”, just hours before he left office, and as one of his last official acts, Schwarzenegger commuted Núñez’s sentence by more than half, to seven years.[6][10][11] Against protocol, Schwarzenegger did not inform Santos’ family or the San Diego County prosecutors about the commutation. They learned about it in a call from a reporter.[11]

The Santos family, along with the San Diego district attorney, sued to stop the commutation, claiming that it violated Marsy's Law. In September 2012, Sacramento County superior court judge Lloyd Connelly stated, "Based on the evidentiary records before this court involving this case, there was an abuse of discretion...This was a distasteful commutation. It was repugnant to the bulk of the citizenry of this state." However, Connelly ruled that Schwarzenegger remained within his executive powers as governor.[4]

In April 2016, Esteban Núñez was released from Mule Creek State Prison, serving less than six years of his original 16-year sentence.[12][13]

Legacy

In October 2012, Governor Jerry Brown signed a bipartisan bill that requires that the offender's victims and their families receive at least 10 days notice for any commutations.[14]

References
  1. Goffard, Christopher (December 21, 2014). "Knives, a death, a famous name". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 5, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  2. Goffard, Christopher (December 23, 2014). "On the eve of a murder trial, a deal is struck. But will it stick? - Los Angeles Times". Graphics.latimes.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  3. Kucher, Karen; Littlefield, Dana (January 3, 2011). "Local prosecutors blast cut in Nunez' sentence". Archived from the original on November 25, 2017. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  4. "Judge: Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's sentence cutting of Esteban Nunez was legal". Thereporter.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  5. "Dan Walters: Schwarzenegger leaves a foul stench". Dailynews.com. Archived from the original on October 13, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  6. Dillon, Nancy (April 11, 2016). "Calif. pol's son who killed college student out of prison". NY Daily News. Archived from the original on October 11, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  7. "Knives, a death, a famous name". graphics.latimes.com. Archived from the original on June 28, 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  8. "When Dad's Friends Write Letters - Voice of San Diego". voiceofsandiego.org. May 4, 2009. Archived from the original on October 23, 2016. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  9. "Bail Reduced For Man Accused In Fatal Stabbing". 10news.com. October 5, 2009. Archived from the original on October 23, 2016. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  10. Lovett, Ian (December 26, 2017). "Schwarzenegger Commutes Sentence of Politician's Son". Archived from the original on July 30, 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2017 – via NYTimes.com.
  11. Lah, Kyung (July 8, 2015). "Arnold Schwarzenegger's last act as governor follows him". CNN.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  12. "Esteban Nuñez is released from prison after his sentence was drastically reduced by Schwarzenegger". LA Times. April 10, 2016. Archived from the original on October 12, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  13. Henderson, Bruce (May 11, 2011). "Arnold Pardoned My Son's Attacker: Schwarzenegger's Commutation of Fabian Nunez's Son". Archived from the original on May 26, 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2017 – via www.thedailybeast.com.
  14. Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times (October 4, 2011). "Gov. Jerry Brown signs notification bill on reducing sentences - latimes". Articles.latimes.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
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