Schwarzenegger cuts prison time for son of Democrat

[The Northerner]

(Reuters) - In one of his last acts as California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger on Sunday reduced the prison term imposed on the son of a former state Assembly speaker for his role in the stabbing death of a San Diego college student.

Schwarzenegger, a Republican whose seven-year tenure ends on Monday with the inauguration of Democrat Jerry Brown as governor, ordered the 16-year prison sentence levied in June against Esteban Nunez commuted to seven years.

Nunez, now 22, pleaded guilty in May to voluntary manslaughter and assault stemming from the fatal stabbing of Mesa College student Luis Santos during a drunken brawl near San Diego State University in 2008.

In exchange for his guilty plea prosecutors dropped murder charges against Nunez, whose father, Fabian Nunez, a prominent Los Angeles Democrat, served six years in the state Assembly, including four years as Assembly speaker.

The elder Nunez left office in late 2008.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70207E20110103

[Frank Booth]

1. Nice to see Republicans and Democrats working together.