Suge Knight And The Three-Strike Law: Does It Apply?

In 2018, Marion Hugh Suge Knight Jr., the co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records, pled no contest to voluntary manslaughter in a fatal 2015 hit-and-run. This conviction, along with his previous felonies of stealing a camera and sending a harassing text message to Straight Outta Compton director F. Gary Gray, triggered California's three-strikes law. Knight was sentenced to 28 years in prison, with eligibility for parole in October 2034.

The three-strikes law, enacted in California in 1994, imposes a life sentence for any crime, regardless of severity, if the defendant has two prior convictions for serious or violent crimes as defined by the California Penal Code. The law was intended to keep murderers, rapists, and child molesters behind bars, where they belong, but over half of those sentenced under the law are serving time for nonviolent crimes.

Suge Knight's criminal history

Marion Hugh "Suge" Knight Jr., co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records, has an extensive criminal history. In 1987, Knight was arrested and charged with domestic violence for assaulting his girlfriend, Sharitha Golden, and cutting off her ponytail. That same year, he was arrested for allegedly stealing a vehicle while carrying a concealed weapon and firing at the driver three times during the auto theft. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanour charge and was placed on probation for two years.

In 1988, Knight reportedly assaulted someone at Los Angeles International Airport. In 1990, Knight, who was associated with the Tree Top Bloods gang, assaulted a man with a pistol, breaking his jaw. He pleaded guilty to felony assault with a deadly weapon and was fined $9,000 with a two-year suspended sentence. That same year, he pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon and was put on probation.

In 1991, Knight pleaded guilty to battery. In 1992, he was arrested in New Orleans for participating in a brawl that took 80 police officers to break up. Later that year, Knight attacked two brothers, George and Lynwood Stanley, who were hoping to sign to Death Row, at gunpoint. He ordered them to their knees and fired a shot near them, then beat Lynwood Stanley with the gun and made them take off their pants. He received a nine-year suspended sentence and pleaded no contest to both counts of assault in 1994, resulting in two strikes under California's three-strikes law.

In 1993, Knight was listed as a defendant in a drug-distribution indictment in Las Vegas, where cocaine was transported from Los Angeles and sold. He was convicted of gun possession but did not serve any prison time. In 1995, he was charged with conspiracy to illegally possess a firearm and pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with a firearm, again serving no jail time. That same year, he was thought to be involved in the beating death of Kelly Jamerson at a Death Row party, though no one was arrested.

In 1996, Knight and Tupac Shakur assaulted Orlando Anderson, a Southside Compton Crips gang member, after departing from a Mike Tyson boxing match in Las Vegas. Three hours later, someone shot at the car Knight was driving, injuring him and fatally wounding Shakur. Knight was jailed pending a hearing for violating his probation and was sentenced to nine years in prison in 1997 but was granted early release in 2001.

In 2002, Knight was sent to prison for violating his parole when he struck a parking lot attendant. In 2005, Knight was shot in the leg at Kanye West's VMA party in Miami and sued West for inadequate security. In 2008, Knight was charged with federal drug possession and misdemeanour battery, but the charges were dropped.

In 2014, Knight was shot six times at a pre-Video Music Awards party hosted by Chris Brown. He refused to cooperate with law enforcement. That same year, he was charged with second-degree robbery along with comedian Katt Williams for allegedly stealing a camera from a paparazzi photographer in Beverly Hills.

In 2015, Knight was charged with murder, attempted murder, and two counts of hit-and-run after crashing his car into two men, killing one, and fleeing the scene in Compton. He pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 28 years in prison, with the conviction triggering California's three-strikes law.

The three-strikes law in California

In 1994, California voters passed the "Three Strikes and You're Out" law, which imposed a life sentence for almost any crime, no matter how minor, if the defendant had two prior convictions for crimes defined as serious or violent by the California Penal Code. The law was passed in response to the tragic murders of Kimber Reynolds and Polly Klaas.

The three-strikes law significantly increases the prison sentences of persons convicted of felonies who have previously been convicted of a violent or serious felony. It also limits the ability of these offenders to receive a punishment other than a prison sentence. Violent and serious felonies are specifically listed in state law. Violent offenses include murder, robbery of a residence in which a deadly or dangerous weapon is used, rape, and other sex offenses. Serious offenses include the same offenses defined as violent offenses, as well as other crimes such as burglary of a residence and assault with intent to commit a robbery or rape.

The law was intended to "keep murderers, rapists, and child molesters behind bars, where they belong". However, today, more than half of inmates sentenced under the law are serving sentences for nonviolent crimes. Over 45% of inmates serving life sentences under the three-strikes law are African American, and the law is also applied disproportionately against mentally ill and physically disabled defendants. California's State Auditor estimates that the law adds over $19 billion to the state's prison budget.

In 2012, voters passed the Three Strikes Reform Act ("Proposition 36") to address the harshest and unintended consequences of the sentencing law. Prop. 36 eliminated life sentences for non-serious, non-violent crimes and established a procedure for inmates sentenced to life in prison for minor third-strike crimes to petition for a reduced sentence. In the first eight months of its enactment, over 1,000 prisoners were released under Prop. 36, with a recidivism rate of less than 2%. The reform has saved California taxpayers between $10 and $13 million, and it is estimated that Californians would save almost $1 billion over the next ten years if the reform is applied to all eligible inmates.

The three-strikes law in South Carolina

The list of "most serious offenses" includes voluntary manslaughter, homicide by child abuse, certain degrees of criminal sexual conduct charges, certain kidnapping charges, and certain accessory charges. "Serious offenses" include lesser degrees of assault and sex crimes, non-violent theft crimes, drug crimes, and white-collar crimes such as embezzlement of public funds, insurance fraud, and obtaining a signature or property by false pretenses.

The determination of whether to serve someone with notice of LWOP (life without parole) is at the discretion of the prosecutor, who in South Carolina is called a Solicitor. If the Solicitor decides to pursue LWOP, they must inform the defendant at least 10 days before the trial.

It is important to note that the Three-Strikes law can have serious implications for an individual's future, and it is recommended to consult with a criminal defense attorney to understand the complexity of this statute and explore possible defenses and options.

Suge Knight's conviction and sentencing

In 2018, Marion Hugh "Suge" Knight Jr., the co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records, was sentenced to 28 years in prison under California's three-strikes law. The sentence was handed down after Knight pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in a fatal 2015 hit-and-run incident.

The maximum penalty for voluntary manslaughter in California is 11 years in prison, but Knight's sentence was doubled to 22 years because of his two prior felony convictions. He received an additional six years because the conviction was for a serious and violent felony, and one more year for a deadly weapon allegation involving his truck, bringing the total sentence to 29 years. However, as part of the plea agreement, Knight was cleared of two other charges from 2014: stealing a camera from a woman and sending threatening text messages to "Straight Outta Compton" director F. Gary Gray.

The hit-and-run incident occurred on the set of the movie "Straight Outta Compton" in 2015. Knight was involved in an argument with two men, Terry Carter and Cle Sloan, and subsequently ran them over with his truck, killing Carter and injuring Sloan. Carter's family members gave emotional victim impact statements during the sentencing, expressing their anger at Knight and describing the lasting trauma of the incident.

Knight's conviction and sentencing under the three-strikes law marked a significant development in his long history of legal troubles, which included assault, weapons convictions, and parole violations. Knight's prior felony convictions and his central role in the commercial success of gangsta rap in the 1990s also contributed to the public perception of his case.

Suge Knight's life imprisonment

Suge Knight's imprisonment is the culmination of a long series of run-ins with the law. In 1995, Knight received five years of probation for assault with a deadly weapon against two rappers. He violated his probation in 1997, on the night of Tupac Shakur's murder in Las Vegas, when Knight was involved in a physical altercation. This resulted in a nine-year prison sentence.

In 2018, Knight was sentenced to 28 years in prison for a 2015 hit-and-run that killed one man, Terry Carter, and injured another, Cle Sloan. Knight pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter, and the sentence was triggered by California's three-strikes law. Knight's previous felonies included stealing a camera and sending a harassing text message to the director of Straight Outta Compton, F. Gary Gray.

Knight's sentence was also influenced by his reputation as a central figure in the gangsta rap scene of the 1990s, and allegations that he used intimidation and violence in his business dealings. Knight's violent past and his association with gang members added weight to the prosecution's case.

Knight's imprisonment has been marked by health issues, including blood clots, panic attacks, and claims of blindness and weight loss. He has also experienced restrictions on his privileges, with his phone and visitor access being revoked at one point during his trial. Knight has also made headlines by testifying in a civil trial, launching a podcast, and addressing various controversies in the hip-hop world.

Knight is currently serving his sentence at the RJ Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, and he will be eligible for parole in October 2034, when he will be 69 years old.

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