251:. 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.
102:
was punched in the face by Thomas. A trailer nearby was also vandalized. That same night, the four men drove back to
Sacramento County, where they all resided, and disposed of all evidence of the crime. The men were arrested in December 2008 in Sacramento County, and driven back to San Diego County for booking.
152:
Proposition 17 was approved by voters in
California during the November 2020 election. The proposition allows people convicted of felonies, but are out on parole, the ability to vote. This changed restored voting rights to about 50,000 parolees. Opponents of Prop. 17 claim that it is an injustice to
128:
There was speculation that NĂșñez, Garcia, Thomas and Jett were associated with The Hazard Crew, or THC based on both pictures and several statements made by the accused according to witness statements. Investigators included comments in the arrest warrant about the group belonging to a "close-knit
101:
On
October 4, 2008, Esteban NĂșñez, Rafael Garcia, Leshanor Thomas, and Ryan Jett got into an altercation with Luis Santos near San Diego State University, leading to Jett fatally stabbing Santos. Two other men who were there during the time of Santos's death were stabbed by NĂșñez, and a fourth man
112:
In May 2010, NĂșñez and Jett pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and assault to get the murder charges dropped. Both were sentenced to 16 years in prison. On July 2, 2010, Garcia and Thomas were placed on probation for three years. Thomas pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon and
132:
Sacramento- area law enforcement had no prior knowledge of âTHC,â and didn't believe they were engaging in gang activities. Though several of the men had been previously arrested on minor charges, Jett was the only one who was arrested on more serious gun charges.
129:
group of friends who call themselves 'THC'." They specifically identified "186.22 PC Participating in a
Criminal Gang" in the warrant. The crew identified with a biohazard icon, which all four of the men had tattooed on themselves.
243:
NĂșñezâs sentence by more than half, to seven years. Against protocol, Schwarzenegger did not inform Santosâ family or the San Diego County prosecutors about the commutation. They learned about it in a call from a reporter.
156:
NĂșñez was part of the Yes on Prop. 17 campaign. During his time behind bars, he claimed to have read three newspapers a day, and felt very up on current events by the time he left prison after his sentence was reduced by
205:. Fabian NĂșñez, his wife Maria, and his two other children flew down to San Diego to be with Esteban. He made a public statement stating "e are confident our son Esteban will be cleared of the charges he is facing."
192:
Esteban NĂșñez was 19-years-old at the time of the killing, and 21-years-old at the time of conviction. NĂșñez pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 16 years in prison. NĂșñezâs father, then
1031:
731:
817:
144:
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.
504:
211:
When
Esteban NĂșñez 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
1074:
177:
1064:
1023:
909:
595:
1059:
939:
727:
180:
842:
384:
208:
Witnesses stated that
Esteban NĂșñez told his friends if they got in trouble that his father, Fabian NĂșñez, would get them off on self-defense.
674:
1000:
760:
813:
787:
1069:
496:
170:
591:
153:
victims of crime who must now watch their perpetrators be rewarded with the right to vote before they finish their full sentence.
413:
970:
649:"Ex-California politician Fabian Nunez's son part of Yes on Prop. 17 campaign, restoring right to vote for parolees | abc7.com"
623:
469:"Ex-California politician Fabian Nunez's son part of Yes on Prop. 17 campaign, restoring right to vote for parolees | abc7.com"
212:
704:
440:
239:
As a personal favor to âa friendâ, just hours before he left office, and as one of his last official acts, Schwarzenegger
783:
879:
287:
247:
The Santos family, along with the San Diego district attorney, sued to stop the commutation, claiming that it violated
901:
90:
32:
319:
113:
conspiracy to commit assault with a deadly weapon and Garcia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to destroy evidence.
931:
255:
240:
86:
202:
158:
117:
564:
216:
497:"Esteban Nuñez is released from prison after his sentence was drastically reduced by Schwarzenegger"
996:
648:
468:
275:
223:, head of the L.A. County Federation of Labor; one came from California Assembly Republican Leader
194:
530:
352:
220:
756:
215:. One letter, on official stationery, came from NĂșñez's longtime friend, then Los Angeles Mayor
198:
173:
116:
NĂșñez was released from jail in April 2016 after having his sentence commuted by then
Governor
228:
224:
757:"Judge: Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's sentence cutting of Esteban Nunez was legal"
701:"On the eve of a murder trial, a deal is struck. But will it stick? - Los Angeles Times"
1024:"Arnold Pardoned My Son's Attacker: Schwarzenegger's Commutation of Fabian Nunez's Son"
248:
962:
136:
County of San Diego
District Attorney's office did not file any gang-related charges.
1053:
85:(Luis Felipe Watson dos Santos) (June 27, 1986 â October 4, 2008) was a 22-year-old
700:
105:
At arraignment, Jett was held without bail due to two previous felonies, including
441:"Assembly speaker's son and co-defendant plead guilty in San Diego stabbing death"
106:
40:
624:"Prop. 17, which will let parolees vote in California, is approved by voters"
871:
279:
36:
592:"Gov. Jerry Brown signs notification bill on reducing sentences - latimes"
169:
109:, while NĂșñez, Garcia, and Thomas had their bail set at $ 2 million.
168:
201:, was a close friend and staunch political ally of then governor
258:, serving less than six years of his original 16-year sentence.
320:"Two get probation in SDSU fight that led to fatal stabbing"
76:
Esteban NĂșñez, Rafael Garcia, Ryan Jett, and
Leshanor Thomas
814:"Calif. pol's son who killed college student out of prison"
997:"Arnold Schwarzenegger's last act as governor follows him"
902:"When Dad's Friends Write Letters - Voice of San Diego"
866:
864:
590:
Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times (October 4, 2011).
963:"Schwarzenegger Commutes Sentence of Politician's Son"
843:"Fabian Nunez's Son Destroyed Evidence, Friend Says"
726:
Kucher, Karen; Littlefield, Dana (January 3, 2011).
385:"Fabian Nunez's Son Destroyed Evidence, Friend Says"
231:. Ultimately, his bail was reduced to $ 1 million.
227:, and was sent by California State Assembly member
72:
64:
46:
28:
23:
784:"Dan Walters: Schwarzenegger leaves a foul stench"
990:
988:
932:"Bail Reduced For Man Accused In Fatal Stabbing"
728:"Local prosecutors blast cut in Nunez' sentence"
807:
805:
751:
749:
254:In April 2016, Esteban NĂșñez was released from
219:; one letter came on official stationery from
565:"DOES ASSEMBLY SPEAKER'S SON HAVE GANG TIES?"
414:"Witness: Nunez Confessed to Stabbing Victim"
8:
16:2008 murder near San Diego State University
699:Goffard, Christopher (December 23, 2014).
20:
1075:October 2008 crimes in the United States
181:Speaker of the California State Assembly
1065:Deaths by stabbing in the United States
267:
734:from the original on November 25, 2017
707:from the original on September 5, 2016
622:McGreevy, Patrick (November 4, 2020).
290:from the original on September 5, 2016
1003:from the original on October 11, 2016
942:from the original on October 23, 2016
912:from the original on October 23, 2016
837:
835:
820:from the original on October 11, 2016
790:from the original on October 13, 2016
763:from the original on October 11, 2016
675:"Pair gets 16 years in SDSU stabbing"
617:
615:
613:
598:from the original on October 11, 2016
559:
557:
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553:
551:
524:
522:
507:from the original on October 12, 2016
379:
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183:and father of one of the perpetrators
89:student who was fatally stabbed near
7:
491:
489:
463:
461:
408:
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346:
344:
342:
340:
313:
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309:
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673:Littlefield, Dana (June 26, 2010).
1042:– via www.thedailybeast.com.
973:from the original on July 30, 2017
882:from the original on June 28, 2017
318:Littlefield, Dana (July 3, 2010).
14:
1060:2008 murders in the United States
1034:from the original on May 26, 2017
1022:Henderson, Bruce (May 11, 2011).
961:Lovett, Ian (December 26, 2017).
872:"Knives, a death, a famous name"
812:Dillon, Nancy (April 11, 2016).
782:Walters, Dan (January 5, 2011).
280:"Knives, a death, a famous name"
213:San Diego County Superior Court
1:
235:Commutation by Schwarzenegger
995:Lah, Kyung (July 8, 2015).
439:Perry, Tony (May 6, 2010).
93:campus on October 4, 2008.
1091:
1070:Murdered American students
124:Suspected gang connections
91:San Diego State University
33:San Diego State University
187:
981:– via NYTimes.com.
703:. Graphics.latimes.com.
594:. Articles.latimes.com.
188:Fabian NĂșñez's influence
148:Yes on Prop. 17 campaign
679:San Diego Union-Tribune
324:San Diego Union-Tribune
256:Mule Creek State Prison
197:Speaker of the House,
184:
52:; 15 years ago
531:"Charged with murder"
353:"Charged with murder"
278:(December 21, 2014).
203:Arnold Schwarzenegger
172:
159:Arnold Schwarzenegger
118:Arnold Schwarzenegger
876:graphics.latimes.com
276:Goffard, Christopher
217:Antonio Villaraigosa
50:October 4, 2008
24:Death of Luis Santos
938:. October 5, 2009.
906:voiceofsandiego.org
759:. Thereporter.com.
195:California Assembly
967:The New York Times
849:. December 3, 2008
571:. December 4, 2008
529:Moran, Christina.
503:. April 10, 2016.
391:. December 3, 2008
351:Moran, Christina.
221:Maria Elena Durazo
185:
816:. NY Daily News.
786:. Dailynews.com.
628:Los Angeles Times
445:Los Angeles Times
284:Los Angeles Times
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908:. May 4, 2009.
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68:1 (Luis Santos)
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165:Controversies
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1038:December 26,
1036:. Retrieved
1027:
1017:
1005:. Retrieved
977:December 26,
975:. Retrieved
966:
956:
946:December 26,
944:. Retrieved
935:
926:
916:December 26,
914:. Retrieved
905:
896:
886:December 26,
884:. Retrieved
875:
851:. Retrieved
846:
822:. Retrieved
792:. Retrieved
777:
765:. Retrieved
738:November 24,
736:. Retrieved
721:
709:. Retrieved
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682:. Retrieved
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656:. Retrieved
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631:. Retrieved
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600:. Retrieved
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573:. Retrieved
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538:. Retrieved
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509:. Retrieved
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476:. Retrieved
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448:. Retrieved
444:
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422:. Retrieved
420:. April 2009
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393:. Retrieved
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360:. Retrieved
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327:. Retrieved
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292:. Retrieved
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210:
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199:Fabian NĂșñez
191:
174:Fabian NĂșñez
155:
151:
143:
135:
131:
127:
115:
111:
104:
100:
87:Mesa College
82:
81:
18:
1007:October 12,
999:. CNN.com.
824:October 12,
794:October 12,
767:October 12,
711:October 12,
602:October 12,
511:October 12,
294:October 12,
249:Marsy's Law
107:gun charges
83:Luis Santos
73:Perpetrator
1054:Categories
936:10news.com
262:References
57:2008-10-04
41:California
569:LA Weekly
37:San Diego
1032:Archived
1001:Archived
971:Archived
940:Archived
910:Archived
880:Archived
818:Archived
788:Archived
761:Archived
732:Archived
705:Archived
653:abc7.com
596:Archived
505:Archived
501:LA Times
473:abc7.com
288:Archived
241:commuted
29:Location
853:May 22,
684:May 11,
658:May 19,
633:May 19,
575:May 22,
540:May 17,
478:May 19,
450:May 15,
424:May 15,
395:May 22,
362:May 17,
329:May 15,
97:History
55: (
140:Legacy
65:Victim
1040:2017
1009:2016
979:2017
948:2017
918:2017
888:2017
855:2021
826:2016
796:2016
769:2016
740:2017
713:2016
686:2021
660:2021
635:2021
604:2016
577:2021
542:2021
513:2016
480:2021
452:2021
426:2021
397:2021
364:2021
331:2021
296:2016
178:66th
47:Date
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1030:.
1026:.
987:^
969:.
965:.
934:.
904:.
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59:)
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