Crossing the Blues

Monday, January 3, 2011

Arnold Schwarzenegger Reduces Politician's Son's Prison Term

 Arnold Schwarzenegger has used his last day as California Governor to reduce the prison term handed to the son of U.S. politician Fabian Nunez. Esteban Nunez, 22, pleaded guilty last May to voluntary manslaughter and assault stemming from the fatal stabbing of student Luis Santos during a brawl near San Diego State University in 2008.

He was handed a 16-year sentence - but on Sunday, January 2 Schwarzenegger cut the term to seven years. The "Terminator" star described the sentence as "excessive" as Nunez didn't inflict the fatal stab wound, reports the Los Angeles Times. Schwarzenegger is leaving the Californian office on Monday, January 3.
He also commuted a sentence of a Riverside County woman convicted of first-degree murder for killing her former pimp. Sara Jessimy Kruzan was sentenced to life without parole in 1994. "Mr. Howard's death is tragic, and I do not discount the gravity of the offense," Schwarzenegger said in his commutation statement. "But given Ms. Kruzan's age at the time of the murder, and considering the significant abuse she suffered at his hands, I believe Ms. Kruzan's sentence is excessive."