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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – California Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday commuted the life sentence of a woman convicted of murdering her stepfather in 1989, making her immediately eligible for parole.
Teresa Paulinkonis, 57, has been in prison for 31 years. She was sentenced to 25 years for murder in 1992 in Alameda County. In an order to commute his sentence that Newsom signed on Friday, the governor says Paulinkonis “worked hard to improve himself” by earning an associate’s degree, a certificate in business and participating “in an extensive auto program. -assistance.”
The order noted that four correctional officers praised Paulinkonis for “his positive attitude and willingness to help others.”
The commutation was one of 20 acts of leniency signed by Newsom on Friday, including nine pardons and 10 medical stays, all linked to the coronavirus. Newsom has now issued a total of 72 pardons, 79 commutations and 20 medical stays since taking office in 2019.
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The California Constitution gives the governor the power to grant clemency. Commutation reduces the length of a prison sentence. A pardon would effectively do the same, but it also restores certain civil rights for people who have already served their sentence.
A medical reprieve temporarily releases medically vulnerable people from prison to serve their sentences in the community under the supervision of parole officers.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, center, gestures in front of local officials while speaking about COVID-19 vaccines at the Fresno Exhibition Center on Wednesday, February 10, 2021, in Fresno, Calif. (John Walker / The Fresno Bee via AP)
Newsom’s graces included:
– Jimmy Cha, sentenced to five years in prison in 1996 for threatening four people with a gun in a restaurant parking lot and hitting two.
– Joséphine Edu, sentenced to seven years in prison for having fought in 1996 with her boss and having cut her with a piece of glass.
– Alexander Galuz, sentenced to three years’ probation and one year in prison for a conviction in 2001 for possession of a controlled substance for sale.
– Marco Gomez, who was sentenced to five years in prison in 1998 after shooting someone following an argument at a crossroads.
– Steven Husong, who was sentenced to five years probation and 32 days in prison in 2014 for extortion.
– Robert Hutton, who was sentenced to four years probation and 90 days in prison in 1985 for possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of sale.
– Ian Jerde, who was sentenced to three years’ probation and one year in prison in 1993 after being convicted of conspiracy to commit a felony.
– Robert Thies, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for a conviction in 1988 for manufacturing, transporting and possessing a controlled substance; possession of a controlled substance for sale; and conspiracy to commit a crime and obstruct justice.
– Paul Williams, who was sentenced to three years’ probation and 150 days in prison in 1987 for transporting or selling a controlled substance.
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Newsom’s medical stays included:
– Leland Amos, 68, sentenced to 36 years in life for burglary as a third strike.
– Douglas Aubineau, 63, sentenced to 108 years in prison for three counts of robbery as a third strike and for carrying a dagger or dagger as a third strike.
– Rickie Blue-Sky, 75, sentenced to 27 years in prison for murder.
– Gabriel Camarena, 63, sentenced to 25 years in life imprisonment for robbery as a third strike.
– Ronald Carter, 56, sentenced to 42 years for car theft as a third strike.
– Jeffrey Cole, 66, sentenced to 30 years in life for robbery as third strike.
– Melvin Collins, 77, sentenced to 36 life for burglary as a third strike.
– Steven Franklin, 68, sentenced to 70 years life for two counts of robbery as a third strike.
– Estentio Marigny, 59, sentenced to 41 years in life imprisonment for robbery as a third strike.
– Timothy Rodriguez, 67, sentenced to 25 years in prison for possession of a controlled substance for sale as a third strike.
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