February 06, 2004
Man Who Fired 30 Shots Into Patrol Car, Killed Deputy Sentenced To Death
Full story: NBC 4
An out-of-work laborer who used an assault rifle to blast 30 rounds into an Orange County sheriff's patrol car and kill a deputy before he could unholster his gun was sentenced Friday to death. Judge Frank Fasel rejected claims by attorneys for Maurice Steskal, 44, that their client was delusional on June 12, 1999 and believed Deputy Brad Riches was about to harm him. "The court finds that the defendant committed the cold-blooded, first-degree murder" of Riches, "not because of his fear of police, but rather because of his anger against law enforcement," Fasel said. The "mental disorder" put forth by Steskal's attorneys "explains but does not excuse his conduct," the judge said. "Nothing affected the defendant's ability to choose a course of action, and, unfortunately, for (Riches and himself) he chose the wrong course." On Dec. 12, the second jury to consider Steskal's fate recommended that he be put to death for murdering the 34-year-old deputy. A year earlier, another jury deadlocked 11-1 in favor of life in prison without parole, but prosecutors sought a retrial.Posted by stupefied
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