Local Politics
Northern California prosecutors push back on Newsom’s plan to commute California death sentences
Shasta and Modoc county district attorneys criticize Gavin Newsom’s plan to commute 548 California death sentences to life without parole.
Shasta and Modoc county district attorneys are criticizing Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to change all 548 existing California death sentences to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Newsom announced the plan on Thursday, November 5th. The governor’s office says the sentence changes will take effect after the required legal steps are completed.
Shasta County District Attorney Stephanie A. Bridgett said juries had already weighed the evidence and decided on the sentences. She argued that the governor’s decision gave too little weight to those verdicts, voters’ decisions to retain the death penalty and the families who continue to live with the consequences of the crimes. Bridgett’s office gave a preliminary estimate of seven people sentenced to death in Shasta County who could be affected.
In Modoc County, District Attorney Nina Salarno said the announcement could affect the case of Cherie Louise Rhoades, who was sentenced to death on April 10th, 2017, after being convicted of four counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder. Salarno said the announcement brings more pain for surviving family members and that her office will follow developments in the case.
Other Northern California prosecutors respond
The Glenn County District Attorney’s Office shared a statement issued by the California District Attorneys Association. Association president and Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni said the plan sets aside sentencing decisions jurors reached after hearing evidence in individual cases. Association CEO Greg Totten said prosecutors and victims’ families had too little advance notice or opportunity to weigh in.
Yolo County District Attorney Melinda Aiello pointed to two local cases in which juries returned death verdicts and addressed the families of Andrew Stevens and Antonio Diaz. Yolo County Chief Public Defender Tracie Olson welcomed the decision, citing the risk of irreversible mistakes in capital cases.
Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho called for individual review of each sentence and said victims’ families should be part of discussions about capital punishment. San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas said his office would continue seeking death sentences in cases where he considers them appropriate.
What happens next
In his open letter, Newsom said California’s death penalty system could not be applied fairly and that he believes the state should not carry out executions. He said he had listened to survivors and victims’ families with differing views and acknowledged that the announcement could reopen painful memories.
Newsom paused executions in 2019, leaving existing sentences in place. The new plan would change those sentences while keeping capital punishment available under California law. For people covered by the state constitution’s provision on prior felony convictions, at least four California Supreme Court justices must recommend clemency before the governor can grant it.