Sacramento County Democrats to vote on urging DA Thien Ho to stop seeking death penalty

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento County Democrats are scheduled to vote Thursday on a resolution urging District Attorney Thien Ho and his successors to stop seeking the death penalty. The measure is on the consent calendar for the party’s 6 p.m. meeting at the Sierra 2 Center, where it could pass alongside other items with little or no debate.

The draft resolution says prosecutors have discretion over whether to seek death and argues that capital punishment is applied inequitably, risks wrongful convictions and costs taxpayers more than other sentencing options. It would also have the party sign an open letter opposing death penalty prosecutions in the county and join the coalition behind it.

The vote comes a week after Gov. Gavin Newsom announced plans to commute all 548 California death sentences to life in prison without parole. His office said the commutations will take effect once the required legal steps are complete.

Ho criticized Newsom’s decision in a Facebook statement, saying a blanket commutation disregards years of court proceedings and the views of victims’ families. The California District Attorneys Association also condemned the move, saying victims’ families and prosecutors had no meaningful opportunity to weigh in.

"Any discussion about ending California's capital punishment must begin with the victims, their families, and the communities forever impacted by the most heinous crimes. Justice requires case-by-case consideration, not one-size-fits-all decisions. Every death sentence results from years of legal proceedings, involving juries, judges, and multiple layers of mandatory appellate review. A blanket commutation of all death sentences disregards the individualized facts and circumstances of each case, the careful judicial process that led to those lawful sentences, and the voices of victims who have waited decades for justice. This action also stands in direct conflict with the will of California voters, who have twice rejected efforts to abolish the death penalty and, in 2016, reaffirmed through Proposition 66 that capital punishment should remain an option for the state's most notorious and vile offenders including - Charles Ng, who tortured and killed at least a dozen people after kidnapping and raping them. Two infants were among Ng’s victims. Richard Allen Davis received the death penalty for the kidnapping, attempted rape, and murder of 12-year-old Polly Klaas. Serial killer Cary Stayner dubbed the "Yosemite Killer" was sentenced to death for murdering a mother, her daughter, her daughter's friend and another young woman. We remain committed to enforcing the law as enacted by the people of California and to ensuring that the interests of victims, their families, and public safety remain at the center of our criminal justice system.” - Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho

Ho, a Democrat first elected district attorney in 2022, finished fifth out of seven candidates in the June primary for California’s 6th Congressional District. He received 10.7% of the vote and failed to advance to the general election.

Ho’s statement offered no indication that the local party’s resolution would change his position. He said his office would continue to enforce California law and argued that decisions about capital punishment should be made case by case.