Nuñez: My Status Affected Son's Criminal Case

By Jose Luis Jiménez / Social Media/Web Editor

Published May 19, 2011 at 11:31 AM PDT

This story was published more than 13 years ago.

Nunez Entire Interview

Fabian Nuñez spoke with Marianne Russ of California Capitol Network (CCN).

Former California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez defended former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s controversial decision to commute his son’s sentence from 16 years to seven.

In an interview with California Capitol Network, Nuñez said his son was treated more harshly in San Diego’s courts because of his political status. He believed the ex-governor reversed a wrong that had been done to his son.

“When the justice system in San Diego was done with Estaban, they dealt with him very differently than they dealt with everyone else.," Nuñez said. "And so, to me, that wore very, very heavily on me because, I felt deeply, being who I am, hurt my son.”

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He said the “tragic death” of Luis Santos, who was stabbed during a fight near San Diego State University in 2008, haunts the Nuñez family every day. He does not expect anyone to feel sorry for him and that his pain cannot compare to that of the Santos family.

The controversy over the shortened sentence has not ended. Both the victim’s family and District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis have sued to nullify the commutation.

Jose Luis Jiménez

Jose Luis Jiménez joined KPBS in August 2010 as the Social Media/Web Editor for Fronteras: The Changing America Desk. His duties include using social media platforms, like Facebook and Twitter, to distribute print stories, audio tales and videos produced by Fronteras reporters to as wide an audience as possible. He also uses these platforms to identify communities on the Internet to engage in a conversation about what is happening along the U.S.-Mexico border and in the Southwest. The social media platforms are also used to help reporters find sources and ideas for stories. Jose has been a journalist since 1993, starting his career at media outlets in Florida before moving to California in 2000. Prior to joining KPBS, he worked at the San Diego Union-Tribune covering numerous beats, including the border region and Mexico. His last assignment at the Union-Tribune was as an editor for both the daily newspaper and the website. When not working, he volunteers with the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and serves as treasurer for the local chapter of CCNMA: Latino Journalists of California. One of the group’s main projects is to host an annual media workshop that teaches high school students about journalism and encourages them to enter the field. Jose was born and raised on the island of St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands and graduated from Florida International University with a double major in journalism and political science.

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