Gov. Gavin Newsom has commuted the sentence of Richard Miguel Garcia, who was convicted in a 2009 Tulare County gang murder, making him immediately eligible for parole. (AP/Ted Soqui)
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Gov. Gavin Newsom has commuted the sentence of a man convicted in a 2009 gang-related murder in Orosi, granting clemency to Richard Miguel Garcia, 39, the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement Wednesday.
Garcia was convicted in 2011 for his role in the shooting death of 18-year-old Arturo Bello, who was walking along a rural Orosi road.
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Prosecutors said Garcia and three fellow gang members were searching for rivals when they spotted Bello wearing a blue shirt — gang-affiliated attire. After stopping their car, a co-defendant exited and opened fire, killing the teen and injuring another.
Garcia admitted he knew his associate was armed and that the group was actively looking for rival gang members, the DA’s office said.
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A jury found him guilty of second-degree murder, conspiracy, and gang-related firearm enhancements.
He was originally sentenced to 50 years to life in prison. That sentence was later reduced to 40 years to life due to a trial error regarding jury instructions.
Since his conviction, Garcia has unsuccessfully petitioned three times for re-sentencing. Newsom took no action when Garcia filed for clemency in 2023.
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“With the swipe of a pen, the governor voided the decision of the jury and the multiple decisions of Tulare County judges, jurists who presided where the crime took place, heard witness testimony, and understood the impact to the community,” said District Attorney Tim Ward.
“The defendant is only one third of the way into a 40 year-to-life sentence for a cold-blooded violent crime. By his own admission, he and his co-defendants went looking to inflict violence that evening in 2009. They were literally hunting other human beings.”
Garcia is housed at the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility in Corcoran. He is now immediately eligible for a parole hearing and potential release.
Anyone wishing to contact the state Board of Parole to address Garcia’s release can do so at this link.
You can view all of the governor’s recent pardon letters at this link.
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