A 27-year-old Anaheim man will face 22 years of prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, he entered a guilty plea in connection with an incident that occurred off Zeyn Street in Anaheim the night of August 29, 2012.
Officials say a 39-year-old man was in a physical confrontation with a 53-year-old Irvine man when the 27-year-old decided to join in. The 53-year-old man was killed and the 39-year-old man was convicted of murder. The 27-year-old faces 22 years in prison instead of the 11-year maximum sentence for voluntary manslaughter because of a previous conviction involving gang activity.
In this case, the Anaheim man plead guilty to manslaughter because he played a secondary role in the murder of the victim. The differences between voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, and murder charge is significant because of the penalties associated with each of them.
Voluntary manslaughter is known as a “heat of passion” crime in which a person kills another after being suddenly provoked. Involuntary manslaughter is punishable by a year in county jail or two, three, or four years in state prison and a $10,000 fine.
Involuntary manslaughter is a reckless disregard for a life leading to a death, usually when someone is killed because of carelessness and not because of a deliberate action. A conviction for voluntary manslaughter can result in a prison sentence of three, six, or 11 years, a $10,000 fine and a strike on your record pursuant to the state’s Three Strikes Law.
Murder involves intent and it must be committed with malice aforethought. The penalties for murder in California include 25 years-to-life for first-degree murder and the death penalty for capital murder.
Seeking a reduction from murder to manslaughter is just one of several options that an Orange County criminal defense attorney may consider during the proceedings. Depending on the circumstances of the case, it may also be possible for the defendant to have evidence dismissed and charges dropped. It is vital to hire an experienced criminal attorney is essential if you are facing investigation or a manslaughter or murder charge.