A Santa Cruz County judge has turned down a re-sentencing petition for convicted murderer 34-year old Francisco Marquez. Marquez, who is serving a sentence of life without parole for a carjacking and murder in 1997 when he was 17, was the first person in the state to petition for a reduced sentence under SB9. SB9 is legislation that allows inmates serving life without parole who were convicted as minors, and have served at least 15 years in prison a chance to present their rehabilitation in a petition. The judge denied the request citing gang and organized crime ties, along with the nature of the crime. Marquez can re-petition in four years.
