Bob’s Big Boy gunman Ricky Sanders is on death row but up for resentencing
Los Angeles voters have spoken loud and clear against George Gascon, the outgoing district attorney who has been pushing to release violent killers from prison. Despite the public’s disapproval, Gascon’s office is persisting in its efforts to reduce the sentences of convicted criminals.
One such case involves Ricardo “Ricky” Sanders, a 69-year-old convicted mass shooter on death row. Along with an accomplice, Franklin Freeman Jr., Sanders was responsible for a brutal massacre at a Bob’s Big Boy restaurant in 1980. The pair forced 11 people into a walk-in freezer, robbed them, and shot at them from behind, resulting in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to four others.
Sanders, who has exhausted all his appeals, is now seeking a resentencing. Shelan Joseph, a former public defender brought in by Gascon as his special counsel, is leading the charge for a reduced sentence for Sanders. Joseph’s track record of supporting sentence reductions in the past has sparked outrage among victims’ families, who believe that Sanders should not be eligible for such consideration.
The details of the heinous crime committed by Sanders and Freeman are harrowing. They barged into the restaurant late at night, armed with guns, and proceeded to terrorize the employees and customers. After robbing them, they forced the group into the freezer, where they opened fire, killing and injuring several individuals.
Despite overwhelming evidence against him, Sanders has maintained his innocence throughout the trial and appeals process. However, his death sentence was upheld by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017. With a moratorium on capital punishment in California, Sanders has remained on death row for decades, unlikely to face execution.
The resentencing hearing for Sanders is scheduled for November 22, with Joseph spearheading the efforts to secure a reduced sentence for the convicted killer. If successful, Sanders could be eligible for parole after years of litigation and exhausting his appeals. However, a reduced sentence would also mean losing certain privileges, such as a private cell and access to elite attorneys.
Gascon’s office has also filed resentencing petitions for the Menendez brothers, convicted for the murders of their parents in 1989. Lyle and Erik Menendez have been serving life sentences without the possibility of parole since 1996. Gascon’s replacement, Nathan Hochman, will have the final say on their cases, including potential requests for clemency from Governor Gavin Newsom.
As the legal battles continue, the victims’ families and advocates are steadfast in their belief that justice should prevail and that those responsible for such heinous crimes should not be granted leniency. The outcome of these resentencing efforts will have far-reaching implications for the criminal justice system in Los Angeles and beyond.
