Schwarzenegger sent apology letter to victim's family after commuting Esteban Nuñez's sentence
Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sent a letter of apology to the father of Luis Dos Santos after he commuted the prison sentence of the son of former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez.
Santos was killed outside a party in San Diego in 2008, and Nuñez's son, Esteban Nuñez, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for his role in the slaying -- the same sentence given to Santos' killer.
Just hours before Schwarzenegger was set to leave office Jan. 2, he reduced Esteban' Nuñez's sentence by more than half.
"It is with heavy heart that I write to you in acknowledgment that my commutation of Esteban Nuñez has caused you more pain," Schwarzenegger wrote in a letter dated Jan. 5 and posted on the KNX-AM (1070) website. "I recognize that the last-minute nature of my final acts as Governor provided you no notice, no time to prepare for or absorb the impact of this decision. For that I apologize."
Fred Santos told KNX he is considering taking legal action over the commuted sentence. He said he and his family were not warned about the impending commutation.
“Basically, we think that our constitutional rights as victims have been violated because we were not notified,” Santos told the station Wednesday.
Santos said Schwarzenegger's letter did little to assuage his feelings.
“The context of the letter was to give some excuses ... we do not believe in the sincerity of his letter,” Santos told the station.
The decision to trim the sentence is "100% politics and nothing but," Santos said.
Fabian Nuñez grew close to Schwarzenegger while serving as speaker of the Assembly. The two worked to pass the state's landmark global-warming law, and Nuñez is now a business partner of the governor's chief political advisor at the consulting firm Mercury Public Affairs.
The stabbing took place in October 2008 after Esteban Nuñez and three friends had spent a night partying and drinking near San Diego State University. After the group was refused entry into a fraternity party, they set upon Santos, a student at San Diego Mesa College, and several other young men.
Although Nuñez did not stab Santos, he stabbed another young man in the stomach. Nuñez was sentenced to 16 years for his role in the brawl -- the same sentence given to Santos’ killer, Ryan Jett.
Schwarzenegger issued an executive order sealing the correspondence he had received on the Nunez commutation and all other clemency cases that had gone before him.
The move was unnecessary because unless a governor chooses to release the documents, all gubernatorial clemency records are sealed by law automatically for 25 years after a case is closed.
Santos said the action proved Schwarzenegger "knew what he was doing was wrong."
"He knew this was wrong and he wanted to keep it a secret," Santos said.
RELATED:
Fabian Nuñez gave Kindle to official at prison where son is serving sentence
Father 'outraged' Schwarzenegger reduced sentence of politician's son in murder case
Villaraigosa won't say if he backs Schwarzenegger's decision to cut prison time for Nuñez's son
-- Kate Linthicum
EDITOR'S PICKS:
Did ANY of you even read the whole article. Nunez DID NOT do the killing. Didn't stab the boy and was just part of the group. He did stab another man but he lived.
The guy who did do the stabbing only got 16 years so why should Nunez who did NOT stab the dead boy have to do the same time?
Geez learn to read.
Posted by: Buzz in Solvang | January 12, 2011 at 09:37 PM
Check out You Tube, type 'Arnold in Rio' in the search box, and laugh your butt off.
Posted by: Crazy Horse | January 12, 2011 at 09:51 PM
what a disgrace he is. hopefully, he'll reap what he sows, the nunez family also. i live in NJ & read about this. so his cowardly acts of cronism have followed him far beyond the California border. Scumbag!
Posted by: Cyndi | January 13, 2011 at 11:00 AM
Lou, you're wrong. The victims include the family members.
Arnold, you have no honor. I'm hate to say this, but I hope that you get to suffer and know the pain and injustice you have caused the Santos' family.
Hollywood, you'll never get another penny out of me or my family for any movie that (the coward) Arnold Scharzenegger has anything to do with.
Posted by: W L Anderson | January 13, 2011 at 01:29 PM
30 years ago I was falesly accused and convicted of a crime in California. I will not mention the crime, but this crime is ONLY illegal in 11 states. So in 39 states I am not a criminal.
I have never been convicted of anything else in the 30 years since. I lead an upstanding life, I have been employed all my life, raised a son and daughter. I am highly respected by those who know me.
In 2010 I asked Governor Schwarzeneger for a Pardon. In the letter he sent me, he refused it and asked to try again with the next Governor. He refused me, an honest law abiding citizen, yet he helps a convicted killer.
To bad my dad was not his friend, I could have gotten the Pardon I seek.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 13, 2011 at 06:38 PM
Stupid Arnold, the letter you sent caused even more pain than the commutation. Now you are just putting salt on the wound. If you have to apologize for your action then don't do it.
Posted by: jellylee2020 | January 14, 2011 at 12:08 AM
Arnold, I'm a supporter of yours politically, but you've shown a profound lack of moral clarity with this decision. You ran and led as an independent, but left as an ethically bankrupt politician.
I can't recall ever being this disappointed and let down by a politician I thought highly of.
Posted by: trust no one | January 14, 2011 at 08:33 AM
Yesterday, I was attending my Jury Duty responsibilities and as I sat in the Courts of Riverside, CA, and listen to the Judge inform us of our rights, victim fairness, I thought to myself, how could our Former Gov. Schwarzenegger of California not up hold those rights in his own office???
The people of California are sick of Politicians like Schwarzenegger who continued to abused our Justice System and perform one of the most criminal acts in the history of California and People, we must continue to fight and no allow our Former Gov abused our Justice System with his partner in Crime, Fabian Nunez. This case must be investigated and the heat is on, write to our new Gov. Jerry Brown, the Supreme Courts, San Diego-District Attorney's Office, paste on your facebook, twitter page, don't purchase anything with Schwarzenegger name on it and don't contribute to Maria Shriver's charities, these people can no longer be trusted in California, THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN!
Posted by: Outspoken- This Pardon was a back door hand shake? | January 14, 2011 at 09:00 AM
“Basically, we think that our constitutional rights as victims have been violated because we were not notified,” Santos said.
What constitutional right is this guy thinking of? My thought was a CA victim rights law that was passed some years ago; however, I think the governor has the legal right to do what he did.
Posted by: Warren | January 14, 2011 at 11:10 AM
If I were Arnold, I would move back to Austria...I don't think he will be received too well in public after this gutless and cowardly act.
Posted by: Pargrad | January 14, 2011 at 12:47 PM
Will that apology letter bring back to life Luis Dos Santos? Does a letter replace justice?
Posted by: Light2000 | January 14, 2011 at 01:22 PM
Sorry I voted for this guy....not just a shame on republicans, but on politicians in general...
Posted by: Chris Alexander | January 14, 2011 at 03:41 PM
In 1985 the Los Angeles Times covered with full pages the corruption at ARCO where executives were fired for dealing with Marc Rich who was suspected of violating the neutrality act by trading with Iran during its war with Iraq following the capture of the U.S. Embassy. The blood on Rich's hands was only figurative.
In 2001, your paper covered the scandal when Pres. Clinton pardoned Marc Rich. His wife's mega dollar contributions built a sumptuous President's library.
Now 2011, you compare our ex-Gov.'s midnight clemency of the bloody knife wielding son of the former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez to the most notorious of mis-examples of the executive's decision to forgive.
Right On.
When Arnold announced for office, he and his posse strolled downstairs from his office to the patio of his Santa Monica cafe, puffing a stogie, and sat at the table next to my family.
We didn't applaud lest we interrupt his biergarten lunch although a news radio reporter later asked our thoughts.
Until a few days ago, I still thought the Governattor did the best anyone could and wished my kid got his autograph.
Now all I can recall of our former gov. is a fella who wore high heeled cowboy boots, big hair, disliked tall folks to be pixed next to him and smoked a cigar that was barely proportional to his Bonds' size head.
Correction is a tough road. If the Ex. Gov wishes to do his part I hope Arnold will offer his Santa Monica spread as a halfway house for the ex- Ass. Speaker's son and his ilk.
Maybe then I will understand his clemency decision.
Posted by: thealaskan | January 14, 2011 at 03:57 PM
when is fatherinlaw going to die
Posted by: ron | January 18, 2011 at 01:49 PM
Go Arnold. He did the right thing. The Santos family needs to quit whining like little girls. Arnold for president.
Posted by: terminator | January 20, 2011 at 02:17 PM
I feel ashamed that I voted Arnold Schwarzenegger when he ran for governorship. He brain is full of bu__ __it. I would like to ask him if he would commute my sentence, if i am involve in killing of his children. Shame Arnold Schwarzenegger shame shame shame. As far Fabian Nunez go, I hope Democratic Party kick him out otherwise they will lose their supporters. At least my vote. I feel sorry for Santos family but I would request them to take the case in the court otherwise another speaker of assembly’s son will kill somebody and will walk out easy.
Posted by: Mohammad Ali | January 23, 2011 at 12:55 PM