GUILTY CA - Paul Pelosi, the speaker’s husband, violently attacked after assailant broke into their SF home, Oct 2022 *arrest*

[Snoopster]

I have to say that I was surprised by the sentence. I understand "life", but I had to stop and think about "no parole".

I presume it was because it was related to a federal official and a strong deterrent is needed? So I get that.

But I've seen so many cases where people were actually killed, intentionally, and they still only got "life with chance of parole".

I think this guy has mental health issues. I'm wondering if he could benefit from therapy. Don't get me wrong, I am all in on the "life" sentence. His actions can simply not be tolerated. And, yes, his sentence should have a deterrent aspect to it otherwise all political families will be at risk.

 

[LinasK]

I have to say that I was surprised by the sentence. I understand "life", but I had to stop and think about "no parole".

I presume it was because it was related to a federal official and a strong deterrent is needed? So I get that.

But I've seen so many cases where people were actually killed, intentionally, and they still only got "life with chance of parole".

I think this guy has mental health issues. I'm wondering if he could benefit from therapy. Don't get me wrong, I am all in on the "life" sentence. His actions can simply not be tolerated. And, yes, his sentence should have a deterrent aspect to it otherwise all political families will be at risk.

No therapy is going to help this guy. He's dangerous and nuts. He said today in his sentencing that he's psychic. Guess he didn't predict his life behind bars.

 

[ilovewings]

I have to say that I was surprised by the sentence. I understand "life", but I had to stop and think about "no parole".

I presume it was because it was related to a federal official and a strong deterrent is needed? So I get that.

But I've seen so many cases where people were actually killed, intentionally, and they still only got "life with chance of parole".

I think this guy has mental health issues. I'm wondering if he could benefit from therapy. Don't get me wrong, I am all in on the "life" sentence. His actions can simply not be tolerated. And, yes, his sentence should have a deterrent aspect to it otherwise all political families will be at risk.

I am surprised and disappointed when more killers don't get life without parole. Too many killers get parole and are out much too soon- that said I am glad this guy deserved the sentence he got. The fact that Mr. Pelosi didn't die was fortunate, but his life will never be the same: I am sure he has brain damage- he said he is not the same as he was prior to the attempted murder and assault- he said he gets dizzy spells-- probably headaches and probably memory loss. It was a grotesque horrible attack.

 

[GRT]

I have to say that I was surprised by the sentence. I understand "life", but I had to stop and think about "no parole".

I presume it was because it was related to a federal official and a strong deterrent is needed? So I get that.

But I've seen so many cases where people were actually killed, intentionally, and they still only got "life with chance of parole".

I think this guy has mental health issues. I'm wondering if he could benefit from therapy. Don't get me wrong, I am all in on the "life" sentence. His actions can simply not be tolerated. And, yes, his sentence should have a deterrent aspect to it otherwise all political families will be at risk.

I was surprised by the sentence, too. He's a dangerous guy and a nut, but, JMOO, life without parole should be reserved for the worst murderers and child rapists. MOO

I can see this sentence eventually being appealed/reduced.

 

[Betty P]

I have to say that I was surprised by the sentence. I understand "life", but I had to stop and think about "no parole".

I presume it was because it was related to a federal official and a strong deterrent is needed? So I get that.

But I've seen so many cases where people were actually killed, intentionally, and they still only got "life with chance of parole".

I think this guy has mental health issues. I'm wondering if he could benefit from therapy. Don't get me wrong, I am all in on the "life" sentence. His actions can simply not be tolerated. And, yes, his sentence should have a deterrent aspect to it otherwise all political families will be at risk.

Yeah, I think the higher penalty is because it was an attack targeted at a government official. There was a recent local news item of someone getting a very stiff sentence for armed robbery of a US Postal Service worker in their truck. Those penalties are unforgiving when it comes to federal workers for a reason. Zero tolerance for attempting to interfere with government functions.

This guy was especially dangerous because of the extreme violence, lack of remorse and premeditation, JMO. He wasn't even afraid of police who came to the home. JMO, he's at high risk of re-offending.

 

[Emi]

I was surprised by the sentence, too. He's a dangerous guy and a nut, but, JMOO, life without parole should be reserved for the worst murderers and child rapists. MOO

I can see this sentence eventually being appealed/reduced.

I don't think so and hope he is never released

 

[Betty P]

I don't think so and hope he is never released

Agree. It's not ok to attack and attempt to kill someone just because you disagree with their political views or affiliation. That should never be normalized.

 

[GRT]

I don't think so and hope he is never released

I'm just thinking about punishments fitting the crimes. If we hand down life with no parole to someone who is obviously a nut who breaks in and hits someone else with a hammer, we pretty much have to castrate rapists and put those convicted of attempted murder to the firing squad. I can't even imagine what we'd do with real murderers then. Maybe chop them up into little bits while they are alive?

I've never seen a crime with these charges result in so strict a sentence before.

 

[ilovewings]

Yeah, I think the higher penalty is because it was an attack targeted at a government official. There was a recent local news item of someone getting a very stiff sentence for armed robbery of a US Postal Service worker in their truck. Those penalties are unforgiving when it comes to federal workers for a reason. Zero tolerance for attempting to interfere with government functions.

This guy was especially dangerous because of the extreme violence, lack of remorse and premeditation, JMO. He wasn't even afraid of police who came to the home. JMO, he's at high risk of re-offending.

I agree with your excellent post 100%

 

[ilovewings]

I'm just thinking about punishments fitting the crimes. If we hand down life with no parole to someone who is obviously a nut who breaks in and hits someone else with a hammer, we pretty much have to castrate rapists and put those convicted of attempted murder to the firing squad. I can't even imagine what we'd do with real murderers then. Maybe chop them up into little bits while they are alive?

I've never seen a crime with these charges result in so strict a sentence before.

You make this man's crime sound like no big deal " a nut breaks in and hits someone with a hammer"- it is not nearly that simple. First of all, Nancy Pelosi was the target as speaker of the house and a Federal Official--- This was a political attack with a target. this man decided to viciously assault Nancy's husband- The perp struck Mr. Pelosi's head repeatedly with a hammer causing permanent brain injury. Mr. Pelosi is also an elderly man-- he is lucky to be alive!!!!

 

[GRT]

You make this man's crime sound like no big deal " a nut breaks in and hits someone with a hammer"- it is not nearly that simple. First of all, Nancy Pelosi was the target as speaker of the house and a Federal Official--- This was a political attack with a target. this man decided to viciously assault Nancy's husband- The perp struck Mr. Pelosi's head repeatedly with a hammer causing permanent brain injury. Mr. Pelosi is also an elderly man-- he is lucky to be alive!!!!

I'm probably wrong, but I thought he only hit him once. Either way, what he did was horrific. I'm just saying I don't think it rises to the punishment level of murder or child rape. I think if we give this guy an ultimate punishment--where do we go when the crimes get worse?

 

[GRT]

Agree. It's not ok to attack and attempt to kill someone just because you disagree with their political views or affiliation. That should never be normalized.

You're right. It should never be allowed or normalized. Maybe the judge was setting an example with this guy.

But, it doesn't always go that way. Rene Boucher--the guy who attacked Rand Paul and broke his ribs--got off with a few months in prison, a fine, and community service. They were at odds politically and also as neighbors. But, I felt that was probably a decent sentence.

I don't know that it's okay to single out attackers of elected officials (or their family members) for stronger sentences. But, I do think the mental cases need to remain behind bars until they prove they can function in society again.

 

[branmuffin]

I'm probably wrong, but I thought he only hit him once. Either way, what he did was horrific. I'm just saying I don't think it rises to the punishment level of murder or child rape. I think if we give this guy an ultimate punishment--where do we go when the crimes get worse?

Only??

 

[branmuffin]

You're right. It should never be allowed or normalized. Maybe the judge was setting an example with this guy.

But, it doesn't always go that way. Rene Boucher--the guy who attacked Rand Paul and broke his ribs--got off with a few months in prison, a fine, and community service. They were at odds politically and also as neighbors. But, I felt that was probably a decent sentence.

I don't know that it's okay to single out attackers of elected officials (or their family members) for stronger sentences. But, I do think the mental cases need to remain behind bars until they prove they can function in society again.

Rand Paul was never third in line for the presidency. And most of the beef was because they were neighbors.

 

[SouthAussie]

RSBM

,,,,, where do we go when the crimes get worse?

You go to the same place. Life without parole. Life without parole can cover a whole range of offences.

I would say that hitting someone in the head with a hammer and fracturing their skull was an action intended to cause death.

imo

 

[GRT]

You go to the same place. Life without parole. Life without parole can cover a whole range of offences.

I would say that hitting someone in the head with a hammer and fracturing their skull was an action intended to cause death.

imo

You could be right. It could have been attempted murder. And Paul Pelosi was obviously very affected. You can read his impact statement here.

But, we still typically don't see sentences of life-without-parole for attempted murder. It seems like most attempted murder carries 15 years to life, and aggravated assault approximately 10-20 years.

Maybe it was enhanced sentencing based on the attacker being a repeat offender. I've heard of that. I didn't really follow this case so I don't know what the reasoning was for the sentence. It just seems a little off to me and I wouldn't be surprised to see it appealed and reduced in the future to bring it more in line with similar charges and sentences.

 

[GRT]

Rand Paul was never third in line for the presidency. And most of the beef was because they were neighbors.

Well, neither was Paul Pelosi.

Maybe the judge took into account that the attacker's true target was Nancy Pelosi. But yet, Nancy was never in danger that night.

 

[acutename]

You could be right. It could have been attempted murder. And Paul Pelosi was obviously very affected. You can read his impact statement here.

But, we still typically don't see sentences of life-without-parole for attempted murder. It seems like most attempted murder carries 15 years to life, and aggravated assault approximately 10-20 years.

Maybe it was enhanced sentencing based on the attacker being a repeat offender. I've heard of that. I didn't really follow this case so I don't know what the reasoning was for the sentence. It just seems a little off to me and I wouldn't be surprised to see it appealed and reduced in the future to bring it more in line with similar charges and sentences.

P Pelosi was old at the time*- this was not like two young guys in a bar fight IMO

*84 now, 82 then
At the time of the break-in, Paul Pelosi, age 82, was sleeping in a third-floor bedroom. The intruder woke Pelosi and demanded to speak to "Nancy"; when Pelosi said that she was not home, the intruder said he would wait. Pelosi called 911 on his cellphone at 2:27 a.m.

Attack on Paul Pelosi - Wikipedia​

 

[LinasK]

You make this man's crime sound like no big deal " a nut breaks in and hits someone with a hammer"- it is not nearly that simple. First of all, Nancy Pelosi was the target as speaker of the house and a Federal Official--- This was a political attack with a target. this man decided to viciously assault Nancy's husband- The perp struck Mr. Pelosi's head repeatedly with a hammer causing permanent brain injury. Mr. Pelosi is also an elderly man-- he is lucky to be alive!!!!

Yes, and his primary target was the Speaker of the House- 3rd in line for the presidency.. It's just fortunate for her and the rest of the country that she was away in Washington D.C. at the time. Her husband had to bear the brunt of the attack in her absence. Her security (by that I mean Secret Service and SFPD, not her alarm system) both failed her and her husband miserably.

 

[LinasK]

You go to the same place. Life without parole. Life without parole can cover a whole range of offences.

I would say that hitting someone in the head with a hammer and fracturing their skull was an action intended to cause death.

imo

Exactly! One of the charges DePape faced was attempted murder. His sentence is appropriate.