"This sentence minimizes the gravity of Rodriguez's actions and the devastating impact on Mr. Morin's family, while also disregarding the significant effort the jury devoted to reaching a just verdict,"
"We firmly believe a stronger sentence was warranted to reflect the seriousness of this crime and to hold the defendant fully accountable."
Oscar Rodriguez, a former Riverside County sheriff's deputy, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in June and sentenced to one year in jail and 10 years of probation by Judge Otis Sterling III. Prosecutors objected and sought a 10-year sentence, calling the shorter term insufficient to reflect the crime's seriousness and its impact on the victim's family. Rodriguez said he was serving a warrant and shot Luis Morin in the chest during a struggle. A federal civil lawsuit revealed Rodriguez was dating Diana Perez, who had two children with Morin; prosecutors say Rodriguez responded to multiple 911 calls Perez made. Prosecutors charged Rodriguez in 2017, and the lawsuit alleged Rodriguez hid outside Morin's home the night of the shooting.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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