Stow, a 45-year-old paramedic who went to the 2011 opening day game in Los Angeles, was beaten nearly to death in a parking lot after the game. He now requires 24-hour care from his family. The family is also suing the stadium and owner in a civil lawsuit.
For the crime, Sanchez received eight years for one count of mayhem. Norwood received four years for one count of assault likely to produce great bodily injury. Norwood has already served much of that time awaiting sentencing. However, he will likely be arrested when he is released because of a separate federal offense of being a former felon in possession of a handgun.
Stow’s sister, Bonnie Stow, described her brother’s life: “We shower him, we dress him, we fix his meals. We make sure he gets his 13 medications throughout the day. He takes two different anti-seizure medications to prevent the seizures . . . ”
While such testimony was being given, Superior Court Judge George Lomeli grew angry with what he described as smirking from Sanchez for smirking.
I am not sure why the charges were reduced for the two men in the plea bargain. The men were recorded acknowledging their crimes in recorded jailhouse statements as well as a call by Norwood to his mother. Sanchez apologizes to Norwood for pulling him into the fight and Norwood said that he had no regrets in back in him up. Keep in mind that these thugs jumped Norwood from behind. Witnesses said that Sanchez had been taunting Giants fans throughout the game and was throwing peanuts and spraying sodas on opposing fans.
They came very close to killing Stow and yet Sanchez will serve less than eight years and Norwood will be out on his four year stint in a relatively short time. This is a tough call. Eight years is a substantial sentence but do you think it fits this crime?