BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — California Gov. Jerry Brown announced on Christmas Eve that he has granted 143 pardons and 131 commutations as he prepares to leave office.
Six people with ties to Kern County are among the individuals affected by the announcement.
Commutation of Sentence
In January 1981, John Cebreros and his friend forcefully entered the apartment of Dale Boender and Janice Allen, according to documents from the governor's office. Both were bound, blindfolded and struck on the head with a blunt object. Allen died from her injuries and Boender was severely injured, the documents read. Cebreros was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for murder. He was incarcerated for nearly 38 years and "maintained a close to spotless behavioral record," the documents stated. In turn, the governor commuted Cebreros' sentence to a total of 38 years to life.
On July 17, 1981, Roy Camenisch and Robert Mistriel planned to rob Edwin Buck, according to the documents from the governor's office. Both men walked up to the victim's car, then stabbed and beat him, subsequently killing him, the documents read. The two men then drove Buck's car and body to his house, where they burned them. Kern County Superior Court sentenced Camenisch to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus a one-year firearm enhancement. He did not have any misconduct in 25 years, the documents stated. Brown commuted his sentence to 37 years to life. Mistriel was granted parole earlier in December, but it was not clear when he would be released, according to prison records. This comes after he was denied parole for three years back in July 2017.
In October 1987, two drug dealers offered Nicky Woodall money to kill Michael Hoy, a drug dealer they were feuding with, the governor's office stated. Woodall struck Hoy repeatedly in the head with a wrench, killing him, the documents read. After a few days, he enlisted the help of others to dispose of the body in an aqueduct. On March 9, 1988, Woodall was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for murder, plus a one-year deadly weapon enhancement. The documents state that he was dedicated to transforming his life. The governor announced he commuted Woodall's sentence to 31 years to life.
Pardons
California resident David Paul Esposito was sentenced in May 1997 for possession of a controlled substance for sale and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia, according to the documents. He served nine months in prison and was on parole for three years. Brown granted Esposito a full and unconditional pardon.
Robert L. Karpe, of Idaho, was sentenced in September 1993 for burglary, the governor's office stated. He served three years probation and was discharged on Sept. 24, 1996. The governor granted him a full and unconditional pardon.
Chhay Bun Kim -- who lawfully entered the United States at the age of 5 as a refugee from Cambodia -- was sentenced in December 1999 for assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, which is classified as a misdemeanor, according to the documents from Brown's office. He served three years probation and was discharged on Dec. 9, 2002. The governor granted Kim a full and unconditional pardon for the offense.
