Freedom man convicted of murder in 1998 petitions for resentencing

SANTA CRUZ -- A 33-year-old Freedom man sentenced to life in prison without parole for the 1997 murder of a Cabrillo College student is vying for a chance at freedom.

An attorney for Francisco Marquez appeared in Santa Cruz County Superior Court Wednesday to petition for Marquez to be resentenced.

Marquez and Jesus Arroyo Madrigal were convicted of first-degree murder, carjacking and kidnapping in 1998 in the killing of 18-year-old Ulysses Huante.

Madrigal was sentenced to 35 years to life in prison, giving him a chance at parole. Marquez was sentenced to life without parole, partially because he admitted to being the shooter.

But in 2012, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill into law that allowed for the review of juveniles sentenced to life without parole after serving 15 years. Marquez, who was 17 at the time of the crime, is eligible for resentencing.

He is the first in the county and possibly the state to petition to be resentenced under the law, according to the California District Attorneys Association.

Marquez has to show he has been properly rehabilitated to get a resentencing hearing and a Santa Cruz County Superior Court judge will decided whether to resentence him, said Santa Cruz County prosecutor Celia Rowland.

If resentenced, Marquez could see a lesser sentence of 57 years to life in prison, Rowland said.

But prosecutors are opposing the resentencing petition because of the seriousness of the crime.

Marquez's attorney, Ken Azevedo, said it was his client's right to petition for resentencing.

See the original post:
Freedom man convicted of murder in 1998 petitions for resentencing