Deseret News | Reader comments: October prison release planned in gruesome double-murder

Reader comments
October prison release planned in gruesome double-murder

Anonymous | 12:06 p.m. July 11, 2008

If Pinder is serving two life sentences how can he be up for parole in November 2028? I thought that life sentences meant you spent the remainder of your life behind bar.

SLC gal | 12:44 p.m. July 11, 2008

Wait, he comes back a week later and kills more people then everyone shakes their heads and wonders what is wrong with our system.

duh | 12:49 p.m. July 11, 2008

Because being sentance to 100 years does not mean 100 years. If you are sentance to life it does not mean life. Obviously the life sentance is referring to 30 years. The federal system is less elastic. If you are sentanced to 100 years you will do at least 85. Some States you may do less than 30% of the sentance, especially if the crime is non-violent and if the system is over-crowded at the time. Additionally if you are a first time offender you will be sentance to a shorter term than someone else for exactly the same crime. Sentancing is fluid and difficult to predict.

Comments continue below

Robert | 1:00 p.m. July 11, 2008

I think, life sentences without chance for parole means you don't get a chance. Life Sentence, is like any other sentence, if you can get out on parole for good behavior, and become a beacon for the community, then you can get out early and do so.

Legal explanation | 1:18 p.m. July 11, 2008

A lot of the reason for his release depends upon what crime he pled guilty under. Many times, the prosecutor lowers the charges at the time of the plea. Often, the lesser charge does not require as much time in prison. For example, the original charge may have been one that required the convict to spend 85% of his sentence behind bars, but under the plea, the statute may only require 50% or less.

Also, there is a difference between a life sentence, and life without parole. The former means there's a chance for parole after a certain number of years (looks like 30 in this case). The latter means you die in prison. Looks like the judge ran the sentences concurrently, i.e. he's serving the sentences at the same time, rather than consecutively, meaning the second one doesn't start until the first is over.

Anonymous | 1:47 p.m. July 11, 2008

I wonder: If he wasnï¿½t an illegal immigrant would he serve the same time? Probably not, he would serve more! Iï¿½m sick of pandering to illegals, just one more case.

Why do we do this? | 3:36 p.m. July 11, 2008

Why do we keep turning criminals loose? That's how the little girl got killed last weekend and how more and more people will become victims until we take our country back from the criminals.

Disgusted | 3:37 p.m. July 11, 2008

I'm sick of criminals being given reduced sentences for copping a plea--pointing the finger. Most people would do anything to reduce their time behind bars. I find it interesting that our justice system goes on the word of CRIMINALS to prosecute others. What would you say if you had nothing to lose and everything to gain by blaming someone else?! Sounds like really reliable witnesses to me...

New Prosecutors | 4:33 p.m. July 11, 2008

Sounds like we need new conservative prosecutors, this guy should apply in liberal California.

Dave | 5:14 p.m. July 11, 2008

If he'd killed a dog, he'd not be seeing the light of day for awhile. I also think had he been white or black, he would not have been given preferential treatment.

I recommend a rope for this punk. Smarter people in this community prefer rendering compassion, rather than justice, for this type.

Anonymous | 7:15 p.m. July 11, 2008

Pinder said ......."Ruiz was the real killer"

Interesting that they gave the Illegal immunity, took his word, and found the Citizen guilty ... I wonder who really was the animal......

Rich | 1:03 a.m. July 12, 2008

Again, a plea deal that smells like a rat. I'm for getting rid of plea deals, especially when the star witness is a criminal or possibly talking because he thinks he can deflect the blame for a crime he might have committed.

If he had put some puppies in a dumpster, he would be getting five years.

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