Stabbing and murder are apparently not a serious crime in the eyes of Arnold Schwarzenegger. One of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s last official acts was to commute the manslaughter sentence of the son of former state Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez.
Esteban Nuñez, who was sentenced to 16 years in prison for his role in the October 2008 stabbing death of college student Luis Dos Santos near San Diego State, had his prison term commuted to seven years by the governor.
“I do not discount the gravity of the offense,” Schwarzenegger’s statement said. “But given Nuñez’s limited role in Santos’ death, and considering that … Nuñez had no criminal record prior to this offense, I believe Nuñez’s sentence is excessive.”
Even though Esteban Nuñez did not deliver the stab wound that killed Luis Dos Santos he did admit to stabbing two other men in the fight. Nuñez and his friends were armed while the men they stabbed were unarmed.
San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis blasted the decision by saying it “greatly diminishes justice.” San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith charged Schwarzenegger reduced the sentence to, quote, “help his political crony’s son.” Although Schwarzenegger is a Republican and the elder Nunez is a Los Angeles Democrat, the two were political allies in San Francisco.
The family of the victim is also outraged. “I think it’s absolutely despicable,” said the victim’s mother, Cathy Santos. “I think it’s a huge injustice to our son.” The victim’s father said the former governor’s decision is morally wrong. “The justice system did not fail us, but the political system did,” said Fred Santos. “Political favoritism is alive and well in Sacramento. Bottom line: [Nunez] pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges.”
Most everyone on both sides of the political isle agree that Arnold Schwarzenegger’s term in office was a complete failure. He left office with only a 22% approval rating. A rating that would be much lower had this back alley deal been made before his last minutes in office.
Stop the low life punk Esteban Nuñez from escaping his time in prison for MURDER!
We need to throw Schwarzenegger in prison for his part in letting this scum go free!
What a punk kid, he knew his daddy would save his pitiful evil life! when wil California wake up and stop these stinking politicians!
If you’re going to discuss this case at least get the facts right.
1) Nunez did not kill anybody.
2) Arnold did not set Nunez free.
He reduced his sentence from sixteen years to seven years based on the fact that Nunez received the same sentence as Jett, the killer, even though he did not kill anybody.
Does it smack of cronyism? Absolutely. But Arnold has favored his friends and the rich and powerful since he took office. Why the outrage now?
So because the doctors were able to save both men he did stab, that somehow says he is less of a monster than the guy that did kill someone? Really? You are okay with reducing his time because he is not as good at killing as his friend? Odd way of thinking.
The Declaration of Independence was clear that colonists where declaring war due to “judicial tyranny,” “Mock Trials.” They called it a “right inestimable and formidable to tyrants only.” We got a tyrant leaving office, and a tyrant coming in! We attempted to enlist thru due process, A.G. Brown to enforce state constitution and state and federal statute to protect public safety and to honor the “Crime Victim Bill of Rights” during and after the enhancement of them under Proposition 9, when he ignored the cry of 2 dozen citizens that officials were disfavoring out of vindictive animus in retaliation for complaining that officials needed outside investigations due to malicious negligence, where their acts were creating a danger to crime victims seemingly to punish and deter the lawful “questioning of authority.”
The Nunez case is not surprising . What is surprising is the discrimination against disfavored citizens! It cannot be argued now that private citizens are disfavored and treated differently than similarly situated U.S. citizens who are favored because they have friends and family in Politics! This is a violation of “equal protection” of the 14th amendment, though arguable only by officials and politicians with smoke and mirror legal b.s.
This is what Brown created by inaction when he was A.G. and ignoring the giving of “get out of jail free cards” to violent criminals of friends of officials. At least Arnold did follow some law! Brown had no authority to “turn a blind eye” unless his basis is “rational.”
The ninth circuit holds in Garcia v. Ihde, and the S. CT holds in Enquist v. Oregan, that officials cannot discriminate due to an “animus” racial, or vindictive retaliation.” Brown aided in arming the mentally ill man here http://www.eldoradocountymentalhealth.com Browns Co-defendant in Eastern District Court Ted Gaines has this mans victims surrounded by 10 or so armed police, not to arrest this mans victims but to tell them, “you have no right to contact your representatives.” There was no warrant, no probable cause, no accusation of crime. Officials use our COPs as their own personal thugs like Mafioso! This is illegal, but who will arrest Brown and Ted Gaines?
Officials have immunity that bar most people and lawyers who make tiny mistakes in pleadings from ever getting to a jury or discovery. If you beat them on law on one point, they quickly find another loophole! It is madness in the court house! So, there is no deterrence for negligence or even corruption. The Supreme Court insists that “deterring corrupt officials by making examples of them will cause our government to fail by chilling the legislators from making law.” This flies in the Supreme Court, see Bogan v. Scott Harris. That same case, however, places a responsibility on the press to report corruption to remove by public outcry bad officials. The press is very selective and discriminates against who they consider to be unfavorable, or politically incorrect! Ironically, the constitution guarantees “equal protection of law.” Officials are excused from liability for their employment, but private citizens are held to high standards of liability! This is not equal protection! This is favoring a state work force, but disfavoring the private citizens who are held liable for everything, and they should be! Not good cricket! Their basis is unethical because it is self serving, or illegal and not approved by voters, but by dictatorial decree! Our court points to the 11th amendment that gives officials a right to be corrupt! Well now you know why officials can fix tickets and murder felonies without fear of liability. You can stop it! It doesn’t seem important as the right to consume alcohol, because instead of stopping corruption, we removed prohibition! The good news is that removing corruption by repealing the 11th amendment is going to easy, and will that be a happy day in USA!
I like what commenter, Julie, said: “When will California wake up and stop these stinking politicians!” Um, never. It’s a big game and the only things that changes is the positions. Same faces, different jobs.
I also thank Pat for the great reference to government corruption” “So, there is no deterrence for negligence or even corruption. The Supreme Court insists that ‘deterring corrupt officials by making examples of them will cause our government to fail by chilling the legislators from making law.’ This flies in the Supreme Court, see Bogan v. Scott Harris.”
God help us. One of the very worst spectacles in recent California history is the subprime mortgage debacle which turned into the loan modification disaster which is now morphing into the debt relief fraud of the future.
I’ve written an article about this on my blog entitled, “Debt Relief Scams Take Over Where Loan Mod Scams Left Off.” It speaks to the very points expressed by readers here:
We are done being puppets for California lawmakers, judges, attorneys and politicians. You can read the article here if you are interested: http://erinbaldwin.com/2010/12/30/debt-relief-scams-have-taken-over-when-loan-mod-scams-left-off/
Erin Baldwin
If you really want to see what kind of person Esteban Nunez is, check out these pics that he used to post on the internet… this personal favor is beyond disgusting, especially when you consider how this young man represented himself:
http://latinopoliticsblog.com/2008/12/04/mayor-villaraigosa-says-that-esteban-nunez-is-a-great-kid-a-good-boy-do-you-agree/#more-392
I can’t believe “The Terminator” did something so damn irresponsible. I found pictures of this kid on another blog and it looks like he’s a gang banger.
http://latinopoliticsblog.com/2008/12/04/mayor-villaraigosa-says-that-esteban-nunez-is-a-great-kid-a-good-boy-do-you-agree/
Poor Arnold turns out to be as corrupt as any of the Saremento bunch.