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| Arnold Schwarzenegger |
Arnold Schwarzenegger reduced the 16 years manslaughter sentence handed down a political ally's son to 7 years when he was about to leave office as the Governor...this generated a lot of controversy and ended up in a Sacramento County Court and superior Court Judge Lloyd Connelly has given a verdict. In his words, he said, "Schwarzenegger's decision to cut the sentence of Esteban Nunez from 16 years to seven was distasteful and 'repugnant to the bulk of the citizenry of this state,' but within his executive powers as governor." Nunez is the son of the governor's political ally, Fabian Nunez.
Esteban Nunez the son of Arnold's political ally Febian Nunez pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in a 2008 attack on an unarmed group of young men after he and some friends were turned away from a fraternity party. Three others pleaded guilty to various charges in the attack that killed 22-year-old college student Luis Santos. Luis Santos' family and the San Diego district attorney filed a lawsuit to contest Arnold's action, but Connelly's ruling came after hearing arguments in lawsuits where it was argued that Schwarzenegger violated a voter-approved law that requires families be notified about cases involving their loved ones.
The judge ruled that the legislation did not specifically address the governor's power of pardons and commutations.
The Santos family's expressed displeasure with the ruling though.
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