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Man who killed 6-year-old in freeway shooting gets 40 years to life
LA Times ^ | 4/12/23 | Christopher Goffard

Posted on 04/13/2024 10:04:17 AM PDT by Impala64ssa

Marcus Eriz, the Costa Mesa man who claimed not to understand why he fired the bullet from his car that killed a 6-year-old boy in 2021, received a sentence of 40 years to life in prison on Friday.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Richard King rejected a defense attorney’s plea for leniency on the basis of Eriz’s age — he was 24 at the time of the shooting — as well as the argument that Eriz had suffered childhood trauma.

King said he could find no connection between the defendant’s alleged trauma — left unspecified in courtroom arguments — and his decision to fire his Glock 17 on the freeway into the car the boy was riding in.

“The defendant didn’t commit any crimes until this particular day,” King said. “There was no impulse until this particular day.”

Eriz was in the passenger seat of a Volkswagen on May 21, 2021, with his girlfriend Wynne Lee at the wheel and his loaded, customized gun within easy reach. He claimed he kept it with him because people had been “acting crazy” on the freeways. They were heading north on the 55 Freeway near Chapman Avenue in Orange during the morning rush hour.

Joanna Cloonan was in her Chevrolet driving her son Aiden Leos to kindergarten, with the boy strapped into a booster seat behind her. By her account, the Volkswagen cut her off and its driver flashed her a sarcastic peace sign. Cloonan responded by flashing her middle finger.

Marcus Eriz was sentenced 40 years to life in state prison. Marcus Eriz was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison Friday for fatally shooting 6-year-old Aiden Leos on the 55 Freeway in Orange in 2021.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; US: California
KEYWORDS: banglist; california; costamesa; murder; roadrage
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To: moovova

Ditto that!!


21 posted on 04/13/2024 12:48:59 PM PDT by Osage Orange (ooooOO)
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To: Blood of Tyrants
"James Earl Ray got life."

Prior to his arrest, he fled to Canada, and flew overseas, ending up in London. He had a second passport on him. Who financed it all?

Ray pled guilty, avoiding a trial. All a little too easy for my liking. Three days after his sentence, he tried to recant his plea, but it was refused. He also escaped from prison temporarily, as he had during other prison sentences, and died in prison. Because he murdered a prominent black man, there was no way he'd ever get parole, and I'm surprised he remained alive behind bars for as long as he did. Obviously he wasn't in Special Housing, or he wouldn't have been able to plan the escape with those who went with him. Back when he was sentenced in 1969, there was still such a thing as a life sentence. Perhaps I should have specifically said in today's world there is no such thing as a life sentence. Even John Hinckley, Jr. is back out walking the streets, and that's only because he was considered mentally ill. You can't keep looneys locked up, because it's not a crime to be nuts. I worked 25 years in uniform in NY State's prison system. Because of overuse of plea deals, nobody does the time today for the "actual" crimes they've committed.

22 posted on 04/13/2024 1:14:49 PM PDT by mass55th (“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ― John Wayne)
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To: kinsman redeemer

Azzhole! I hope his stay is a very very long and suffering one.


23 posted on 04/13/2024 1:22:32 PM PDT by Bullish (...And just like that, I was off the ping list.)
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To: moovova

Say what you will about California, but when you’re given a 40 year to life sentence you will be in there a minimum of 40 years and most likely rest of your life.


24 posted on 04/13/2024 2:33:22 PM PDT by Ol' Dan Tucker (For 'tis the sport to have the engineer hoist with his own petard., -- Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 4)
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To: mass55th

California may have its faults but when the judge hands you a 40 year to life sentence you’re going away 40 years to Life. That’s the one area where they don’t fool around.


25 posted on 04/13/2024 2:34:52 PM PDT by Ol' Dan Tucker (For 'tis the sport to have the engineer hoist with his own petard., -- Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 4)
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To: Ol' Dan Tucker
Ahhh..so help us understand this character?


26 posted on 04/13/2024 2:42:21 PM PDT by Dick Bachert (TH)
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To: Ol' Dan Tucker

That’s good to know.


27 posted on 04/13/2024 2:52:41 PM PDT by moovova ("The NEXT ELECTION is the most important election of our lifetimes!“ LOL...)
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To: Ol' Dan Tucker
Is there a minimum one has to do in California in order to be considered for parole? In NY State, convicts must have served one-half (1/2) of the minimum period of an indeterminate sentence, or one-half (1/2) of their conditional release date for a determinate sentence if they are serving a sentence for:

Murder 2nd
Manslaughter 1st
Any offense as defined in Article 130 of the Penal Law
An attempt to commit any of these offenses

In New York State, All incarcerated individuals, except those serving Life sentences, have a conditional release date equal to either one-third (1/3) off their maximum sentence for indeterminate sentences and one-seventh (1/7) off their maximum sentence for determinate sentences.

When I started working at Auburn Prison (Max) in 1980, there were lifers there. We also had one inmate who still had an "H" in his ID number, which meant he'd originally been sentenced to death. At some point, some of those inmates were re-evaluated by the department. I ran into one of those lifers at the medium security prison I eventually transferred to, and finished off my career at.

28 posted on 04/13/2024 3:08:38 PM PDT by mass55th (“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ― John Wayne)
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To: mass55th
Yes. In California you must serve the minimum of the sentence you've given before you're eligible for parole. So in this guy's case he's going to be there for 40 years before he's eligible for parole. Like I say this is the one area in California where they do not fool around.

California also has a three strikes law. Commit three violent felonies and you go away for life.

29 posted on 04/13/2024 3:27:48 PM PDT by Ol' Dan Tucker (For 'tis the sport to have the engineer hoist with his own petard., -- Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 4)
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To: Dick Bachert

I wish I could. Newsom is a blight on the land.


30 posted on 04/13/2024 3:32:14 PM PDT by Ol' Dan Tucker (For 'tis the sport to have the engineer hoist with his own petard., -- Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 4)
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To: Ol' Dan Tucker
"Like I say this is the one area in California where they do not fool around."

Thanks for the information. I'm surprised, given California's liberalness in other areas that they've stayed strong on that.

Was born and raised in NY State. I live in a Red county in the middle of the State. While the majority of the counties in NY are Red, it's the downstate counties that rule the State. Our State Legislature consists of an almost 2 to 1 Democrat majority in both Houses. I believe George Pataki is going to down in history as being the last Republican Governor of the State. He was instrumental in getting a 3 Strikes Law for violent offenders passed, as well as the Death Penalty, but of course, the courts here knocked both of those down. Al D'Amato who left office in 1999, is the last Republican U.S. Senator from NY State. It's reasons like this that I'm glad I'm on the tail-end of my life.

31 posted on 04/13/2024 3:53:52 PM PDT by mass55th (“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ― John Wayne)
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To: Ol' Dan Tucker
Dan, Here's an UPDATED VERSION OF THAT EARLIER GRAPHIC. Enjoy..AND FEEL FREE TO REUSE AS NEEDED!


32 posted on 04/13/2024 7:55:23 PM PDT by Dick Bachert (TH)
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To: kinsman redeemer

That girly looking boy is gonna get BUGGERED REEEEEAL GOOD!


33 posted on 04/20/2024 11:58:42 AM PDT by 5th MEB (1)
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