California Governor Pardons Inmate Who Received Life Sentence as Teen for Killing Sex Trafficker

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has pardoned a sex trafficking victim who as a teenager was sentenced to life in prison after she killed her abuser and pimp.

CBS News reports Sara Kruzan, 44, was granted clemency on Friday by Newsom. Back in 1994, a 16-year-old Kruzan fatally shot George Gilbert Howard, 36, who had sexually abused her and trafficked her for sex starting when she was just 13 years old. After shooting him in his neck, Kruzan stole $1,500 in cash and Howard’s car.

In 1995, at age 17, Kruzan was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder, with a four-year consecutive firearm enhancement added to the life sentence. She was resentenced in 2013 to 15 years to life for second-degree murder plus a four-year firearm enhancement, a total term of 19 years to life. After serving 18 years in prison, Kruzan was released in 2013. 

“Ms. Kruzan committed a crime that took the life of the victim. Since then, Ms. Kruzan has transformed her life and dedicated herself to community service,” Newsom wrote in his pardon. “This act of clemency for Ms. Kruzan does not minimize or· forgive her conduct or the harm it caused. It does recognize the work she has done since to transform herself.”

Newsom went on to say that Kruzan “has provided evidence that she is living an upright life and has demonstrated her fitness for restoration of civic rights and responsibilities.”