Arrest of Fabian Nunez's son stuns lawmakers

The arrest of the 19-year-old son of former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez on a murder allegation has stunned state lawmakers who  already were in a funk over the budget stalemate that has gripped the Capitol.

Esteban Nunez’s arrest at his father’s Sacramento home, and word that  police were investigating whether the stabbing death of a college student in a middle class San Diego neighborhood was a gang crime, had several lawmakers calling the former speaker to offer comfort and support.

"People are very empathetic, very concerned and reaching out to Fabian, saying 'We grieve for you as a father going through this at this time,’ '' said Sen. Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles), a longtime friend of the former speaker. "My hope is people will understand this is not a politician, this is not a political player, this is a father going through one of the most difficult issues to confront his family.''

Some in the Capitol said there is some irony in the fact that Assemblyman Nunez last year sponsored  a bill that resulted in the creation of a state Office of Gang and Youth Violence Policy to help deal with the problem. Nunez argued at the time that youth violence was spreading from poor to more affluent communities.

"These gangs and the violence they display are no longer limited to discreet urban neighborhoods," Nunez said last year in urging approval of his bill. "They are expanding their reach into more suburban areas and what have been traditionally seen as safe, middle-class neighborhoods."

--Patrick McGreevy

Comments

[Samuel Berg]

'We grieve for you as a father going through this at this time,’ '' said Sen. Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles), a longtime friend of the former speaker. "My hope is people will understand this is not a politician, this is not a political player, this is a father going through one of the most difficult issues to confront his family.''

What's going on here? She is going to grieve for the father of a murderer? What the heck is she going to do to the family of the murdered kid? What a crock of bull from one politician to (former) another politician.

[Jbird]

No concern for the victims family. Fabian is a loser and now he has proven to have raised a loser. Actually worse (a murderer)
Would Gloria Romero have been so concerned about Fabian's feelings if Esteban had killed a member of her family?

[Alejandro Salazar]

Perhaps they should offer they compasion to the victims family. Perhaps Fabian Nunez should not spend so much time turning California into NANY state for everybody, but take care of his family first.

[Richard Long]

unbelievable...no wonder we have such a low opinion of lawmakers...HIS SON IS A MURDERING GANG MEMBER...AND HIS COLEAGUES SHOW COMPASSION FOR HIM AND NONE FOR THE VICTIM.

We need a proposition that when a gang member commits a crime...their parents get the same punishment the gang member does.

[LC]

Nunez his good friends Gloria Romera and Mayor Tony Villar are all birds of a feather. In public service for private gain and when one member of their special club is in trouble, they rally 'round for support. Disgusting. Nothing but a scumbug that didn't fall far from the tree.

[buz]

Looks like Fabian did as good a job raising his creep son as he has running CA into the ground. Good job Fabian. Thanks for helping to turn CA into Tijuana Norte.

[DL]

What about the VICTIM? What about his family. All of them should be voted out of office. This is why we have a budget nightmare. I am nauseated by all of them.

[nmoore6676]

When will California voters wake up and throw out the crooks lile Nunez and Romero?

[Kidneybean]

Sometimes, no matter how hard parents try, kids will do whatever they want, regardless of who their parents are.

[Phil]

Wonder if he'll lose his cushy job with that Republican consulting firm. Condolences to the victim's family.

[AL]

These comments from other readers are shocking. They are directing their outrage at Fabian for political purposes at the most unfortunate time for any family. The responsibility clearly lies with the Esteban, he is an adult and definitely knows better. His father did not do a good job raising his child but you cannot draw parallels between his parenthood versus his political career. I am sure these commentators are the same people who looked away when Palin's daughter turned out pregnant. Some politicians are clearly not good parents and this is probably due to the all consuming nature of politics. Exercise some restraint people, this is all in poor taste.

[Not a hater]

Núñez is not guilty of his son's actions, and Romero is right in feeling sorry for his friend, altough to be absolutely correct, she should have said something about the victim. Most, if not all of those criticizing them would do the same if their realtive was in question, don't be hypocritical.

[mike]

none of you people know esteban or his dad, they are both good people. how can you sit there and call him a murderer when you dont know what happened and you only get the media side. none of you were there you dont know. esteban is a good person who was in the wrong place at the wrong time

[Bear Flag]

To what political party does Nunez belong?

[sethook]

Let's let all the political posturing and legal processes run their course and then make comments. Our opinions don't really matter at this point and won't be used in the legal process that takes place. Let's just hope everything is above board and passes the smell test.

[Jbird]

Mike,

You need to get a life. Go read the whole 17 page police transcript and see what a good person he is. The guy is a wannabe gangster and will now have to go live with the real gangsters.
He definitely was not in the wrong place at the wrong time.
And pics of him (Esteban) stabbing animals on his Myspace page doesn't help his case as well.

[Rudy]

To Alejandro Salazar and all those idiots that cannot tell the difference between an investigation and a conviction. Please make an effort to educate yourself before openning your mouth. Your ingorance is well displayed. I have no compasion for Fabian Nunez or his son if in fact the younger Nunes commited this crime. But we will have to wait till there if a final judicial decision.
Dr. Rude

[cp]

Fabian Nunez should loose his cushy job with Mercury blah-blah --- his son learned his mentality from his parents and listen to his son--- he thinks his Dad can just get him off for murder. I have no sympathy for the Nunez family, they are a disgrace to CA. I can't believe the mentality of his son --- he can not get into a party so he needs revenge and feels justified in actually killing another person. No one has more influence over a child than his or her parents.

[Mike_S]

I'm not a hater either ...Other than one-sided articles portraying the Nunez family as victims with callous disregard to the true victim's family.

Perhaps Steve Nunez is innocent. But apparently four men stabbed a man to death without remorse or consideration for anyone but themselves. If it was self-defense, they should of stayed at the scene of the incident. Instead, they ran to avoid responsibility.

[judyd]

As someone who has harshly criticized some of Fabian Nunez's political actions, I can't imagine using his son's arrest (he hasn't yet been convicted of anything) to trash Nunez himself. Yes, the family of the murdered boy is in a much harsher place and should be mentioned by folks like Romero. But if it were your child or grandchild being accused, wouldn't you be devastated?

[Elvira]

What about the victim's family? I grieve for the family of Luis Santos. IF Esteban committed th crime, he needs to pay for his crime. He will go behind bars and hopefully be there for many years. IF he had nothing to do with the crime, then that will come out in court. Mr. Nunez has a chance at living a normal life or living behind bars. Either way, Fabian and Maria Nunez' son is alive. They didn't lose a son. HOWEVER, i feel very bad for Luis Santos' family because nothing can ever bring their son back, theyhave to live with the fact that their son was brutally stabbed to death, they will never see their son grow up, get married, have children. They never had a choice. I feel very sorry for the victim's family. Santos Familiy son is dead. he's gone. THey have to live with that loss for the rest of their lives. Feel sorry for them Gloria Romero. Grieve with the victim's family before you start grieving and feeling sorry for suspected murder.

I am surprised that he had those gang and pot promoting ictures on his myspace. it is obvious Maria and Fabian don't know what their kids are up to. Good gooing Nunez. Perhaps Fabian has been too busy all these years with tony V's ex, Mirthala, and his other bimbos to take notice he wasn't raising his son properly. I mean look what happened to Anna Caballero from Salinas. SHe was too busy rising in political ranks to take notice what her kids were up. aghhhhh what a mess. Bad bad parents. Both Anna and Fabian were involvedin that gang bill. What irony. They can't take care of their own business but want to take of the public's business.

I don't have the degrees or clout these individuals do BUT I have two wonderfjul children in college and they are not gang bangers and oh yeah, I am latina. I wouldnt' trade my simple life for theirs because I am happy and I have a wonderful family.

FABIAN NUNEZ GO BACK TO COLLEGE AND GET SOME PARENTING CLASSES

[PeteR]

Here's what California has gotten from the lineage of Fabian Nunez:

Father - amnestied former illegal alien
Fabian - racial advocate and open borders proponent
Son - likely violent felon

[Peter North]

too bad it took the murder of an innocent college student to finally rid us of Fabian Nunez.

All of you defending this parsite and his evil rotten son disgust me.

Parents of gang memebers absolutely share responsibility for their kids crimes and should share the punishment....maybe if we enforced this concept, these parents would start raising their children properly instead of hoisting them on society in general.

How much time to do you think Fabian spends with his son? did he coach his little league team? did he read to him at night?....or did he run off to Paris at tax payer expense time and time again!?

[Lou]

I hope Esteban gets locked up in Pelican Bay and all the real vatos make him their new plaything.

What a punk bringing a knife to a fight. Coward. I hope they all get life or better yet, capital punishment.

The Santos family are the vicimts, not Fabian. He got the result of his parenting.

[BM]

I cannot believe there are so many people wasting their efforts into putting the blame on Favian Nunez. If they are so concerned, they should be praying for the victim's family and also try to understand Fabvian's position, as he is doing what a parent would in his circumstance. No matter how well we raise our kids, sometimes they end up doing something else.

[L]

Fabian has bailed out his son, literally and figuratively, for many years, never allowing for or teaching his son the consequences of choices. His parenting and his leadership sucks. He IS responsible for not allowing those around him to succeed or fail based upon their choices. Fabian is a miserable failure, and Romero's choice to defend his poor parenting is equally representative of her poor thought processes. Those of you who continue to elect such people should wake up. Don't give them excuses. All the choices they make in life reflect upon their ability to make good decisions on behalf of all of us. Do NOT re-elect people like Gloria Romero and Fabian Nunez. I'm a Democrat!!

[LB]

Hi Maria, after reading the news my heart goes to you. You have been a good mother and a great person, and I testefied that because you helped me in 1991 when I just had my baby, you came to my house with your two little ones and helped me getting up on my feet. I haven't forgoten that. I am so sorry for all the pain you are going through. I am praying for all of you and for the families of the victim.

[pweinman]

this is a terrible situation. The thing about California's budget problems is terrible to but we are not alone, most of the states are having these problems. One wonders how a society can function without services and infastucture. These things all cost money.

[k Whales]

It is not surprising a once respected newspaper whose bias has now made it the spokes mouth for the state's liberal politics machine would provide a softball feel-sorry-for-me story about the former dem speaker. Not once was the family of the victim referenced or the savage details of the crime for which a member of his household is accused. The whacked Gloria Romero grieves for the suspects father, but not the slain victim's father. This article is an exact snapshot of how upside down our values have become with latino and liberal democrat influence.

[YO]

We must restrain from making hasty conclusion driven by political biases, and unrestrained passion in this particular matter, people. For one, we are not certain about the facts of the case. If Nunez was part of this, I do hope that he gets what he deserves- him and his friends. Secondly, since we don't know whether Esteban and his friends are guilty, we must hold our comments about how this can only be the result of his father not carrying out his parental responsibilities. But, even if it turns out that Esteban is guilty, that does not mean that the parent is. That would be a ridiculuous, and irrational, cognitive calamity. Like one of you wrote, sometimes sons and daughters just do very unexpected things which are inconsistent with their parents' teachings. As for the family of the victim, my condolences and my heart goes to them. This is a very hard and nightmare-like time for them. And I believe that when people say that they feel sympathy for Favian Nunez, I don't think they are not thinking about Santos. Rather, they're saying that "whether your son is guilty or not (again, this is not the point here), I feel your pain."

[mexcrement]

typical subhuman mexcrement vermin - closing ranks to protect their fellow "la raza" members.

[anonymous guy]

I am 18 and know Esteban myself and know that this is not everything that media is going to attempt to make it sound like. He is a young man who has been distant from his father and mother for a long time and has still been given everything he wants and much more (Fabian and his wife bought him a B.M.W. and sent him to private school). He has always intentionally surrounded himself with the wrong people for the majority of his life and most likely was not in the right state of mind when was involved in this murder (not to in any way excuse his actions), whether he was the killer or not. I am not saying he didn't do anything wrong, we all know he did, but I think there is at lease a slight chance that he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Regardless of how any of you feel about Fabian, this has nothing to do with his political views or career and has little to do with the caliber of parent that he has been. This has everything to do with his son and the decision that he made as a young adult who was completely aware of the consequences would accompany his arrest.

Finally, instead of using this as a forum for bashing Fabian Nunez, let's move past the overly immature anger and frustration that you may feel towards the man and PRAY for the victim's family AND the Nunez family as they go through this tough time. Esteban has a younger sister who will no longer have a VERY protective brother in her life and is now more than ever likely to make an irrational decision of the same magnitude.

[Annette Franklin]

People! Let us not forget that a young man who was very much loved by his family and friends was murdered, Luis Santos. The following is repeated here so that everyone should remember who truly are the victims in this tragedy, young Mr. Luis Santos and his family.

"He was very funny and very charismatic," Fred Santos said. "He related well with people "... from a 3-year-old to a 90-year-old."

Luis Santos was also remembered as an able cook and avid East Bay sports fan, following the Raiders and Warriors, but also, inexplicably his father said, the San Francisco Giants. His son's baseball fandom knew no bounds, including economic ones.

"He loved to go to ball games, but didn't always have the money for a ticket," Fred Santos said with a laugh. "So he would peek into the (ballpark) from the cheapskate section," the walkway behind the right-field wall at AT&T Park.

It was one of many quirks that his family — including mother, Kathy, and sister, Brigida — will remember.

"There are so many stories, he had so many interests," he said. "We all miss him very much."

[tb]

".....I am not saying he didn't do anything wrong, we all know he did, but I think there is at lease a slight chance that he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. .." Posted by: anonymous guy

He was in the wrong place at the wrong time? I think you've got that one completely wrong. The victim was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The VICTIM. Not Esteban and his drunk low life friends. Nothing honorable about anyone who takes someone's life.