Nine men and women with ties to the Bay Area have been granted executive clemency by Gov. Gavin Newsom in cases ranging from drug and weapons possession to car theft and attempted murder.
Eight received pardons, part of 37 given statewide, the governor’s office said Friday. Newsom also approved 18 commutations, including one linked to the Bay Area.
While clemency recognizes an individual’s self-development and accountability after conviction, it doesn’t forgive or minimize the harm they caused, the governor’s office said in a statement.
The nine grants of clemency were each based on evidence that the individuals have “been living an upright life,” according to the governor’s office.
They arose from cases in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Sonoma counties, as described by the governor’s office:
— Norma Stoker-Mtume was sentenced in Alameda County in 1978 to two years in prison for possession of an illegal weapon.
— Steven Conway was 22 when he was sentenced in 1988 by a Contra Costa County court to three years of probation for burglary and attempted burglary.
— Michael Woodson was sentenced by a Marin County court in 1987 to 10 years in prison for embezzlement.
— Gabriel Adami was put behind bars for drug possession by a Contra Costa County court in 1988, a San Mateo County court in 1999, and a Sonoma County court in 2009, and on charges involving stolen vehicles by a San Joaquin County court in 1999 and a Marin County court in 2009, among other charges.
— John Nguyen was 23 in 2005 when he shot and wounded a person during a fight over a gambling debt. A Santa Clara County court in 2007 sentenced him to a total of 30 years for attempted murder.
— Robert Lopes Jr. was sentenced to jail by a Santa Clara County court in 1990 on drug charges.
— Justin Martin Del Campo was 20 when he was sentenced by a Santa Clara County court in 1993 to jail for sale and possession of marijuana.
— Desirae Spigner was 23 when she was sentenced to three years in prison by a Santa Clara County court in 2005 for drug possession, receiving stolen property and driving with a suspended license.
— Kenneth Martin III was 20 when he was sentenced in 2005 to three years of probation on drug charges by a Sonoma County court.
“The governor regards clemency as an important part of the criminal justice system that can incentivize accountability and rehabilitation, increase public safety by removing counterproductive barriers to successful reentry, correct unjust results in the legal system, and address the health needs of incarcerated people with high medical risks,” his office said.
22 comments
Watch it won’t be long until one or more of these people commit another crime.This governor has to go.Maybe if he or a family member was a victim of one of these crimes he would have a different outlook.
After reading the statement, it looks like maybe all but one have been out for years, and have NOT reoffended, thus, the clemency
Or maybe they were wrongfully convicted. I have no idea if that was the case. If you would have looked closer those people except one, had no other crimes.
Apparently this man was:
https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/sanfrancisco/news/novato-83-year-old-begins-new-chapter-in-life-after-getting-a-pardon-from-gov-newsom/
These people have served their time and not committed any new crimes. Maybe you should read this article again.
Not understanding this at all – it seems that almost all of these nine people completed their prison sentences years ago – why do they need clemency now?
For example, the first one “Norma Stoker-Mtume was sentenced in Alameda County in 1978 to two years in prison for possession of an illegal weapon.” So she was released in 1978 + 2, which means she was released in 1980. What purpose does the clemency serve?
Correct. It’s largely symbolic with respect to actual punishment. The clemency beneficiaries may encounter a bit less stigma (whether deserved or not) as ex-cons in the job or housing market. When interviewing for a job, a convicted felon will always be asked about his criminal convictions.
This may be a Good Housekeeping seal of approval.
For example, these folks can respond “yes, I am a convicted felon and always will be. Please rest assured, I’ve put that life behind me, and the governor recognized my rehabilitation with a grant of clemency.”
Hopefully they will all be living next to Gavin or his Aunt Nancy.
Stupid is as stupid does. Same goes for ignorance.
I bet if he were the victim of that attempted murder he would not grant clemency. Newsom needs to step into the shoes of these victims, but of course he won’t.
They need voters from any place
Soulless politicians will do anything for votes, support and money.
I wonder how much they ‘donated’ to his campaign to get clemency.
— Norma Stoker-Mtume was sentenced in Alameda County in 1978 to two years in prison for possession of an illegal weapon. This makes no sense. This woman did 12 months of the 2 year stretch and went on to become, at least at one time, CFO of a foundation helping women addicted to substances. So, 45 years later, after all her apparent accomplishments, nuisance provides meaningless clemency? Is he running behind in the polls? If this woman requested this, for her own state of mind, fine, but in the grand scheme, a waste. Haven’t looked at the others. I know these grantings are 100% political, but somehow when that contemptible greasy gavvy does it, it is that much more rancid.
How about Newscum give up his taxpayer security if he feels these people are safe.
Newsom can add those 9 to the 19,000 he let out of San Quentin during the height of covid. I’m not
Making this stuff up. Look it up. During that time he was transferring prisoners causing many of them to die, including some of the correctional officers unfortunately. Now he wants the San Quentin to become a club fed to the remaining convicts to provide vocational training at taxpayers expense. I wonder what he has provided to the victims and their families from their crimes?
You do realize that 98.9% of these people get out of prison, so maybe we should try to rehabilitate because it’s so amazing to me how ignorant everybody truly is. Do you think that once you go to prison, you’re there for your whole entire life? Duh……
I could use some clemency, not asking that twit for it though. I’ll ask The Pope, he seems reasonable.
Newscum: Friend and supporter of criminals, and promoter of crime.
Wow……anything to get votes for the Demonrat party.
Mythology.
Absolutely true. Anyone who has the intellect to see what the true motivation of self serving politicians really is, knows it.
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