With just two months left in his term, Governor Gavin Newsom has decided to commute all 548 California death sentences to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Seven of those inmates committed their crimes in Shasta County. District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett calls the move irresponsible, saying it fails to consider the victims, the interests of justice or the will of the people of California. She says he has placed his political agenda ahead of the rights of victims and their families.
20-year-old Lori Sinner was murdered in Shasta County by Paul Smith and two others in 1998. Her brother Jason Sinner sent KQMS an email Thursday decrying Newsom’s decision. Jason is still struggling with what happened when Smith’s death sentence came back on appeal. It was decided that the sentencing phase would not be re-filed because it would cost a lot of money, the death penalty was already on a moratorium, and Smith would still spend life in prison amongst the general population.
-Steve Gibson