A man who was freed from a life sentence in prison by a benevolent governor is now back behind bars facing a murder charge. 50-year-old Stonney Marcus Rivers was charged last week with first-degree murder in the drug robbery slaying of 24-year-old David Cabrera at a motel on November 2.

In 2015, then-Governor Christine Gregoire commuted Rivers' life sentence to prison, which he received under a three-strikes law after being convicted of his third felony in 1995.

'Rivers continues to commit crimes, even when he is on community custody and even after being given a once-in-a-lifetime second chance through a governor’s commutation,' Senior Deputy Prosecutor John Castleton wrote in charging papers obtained by the Seattle Times.


Police said they used surveillance video to identify the gunman as Rivers, matching the shooter with his driver’s-license photo and photos posted on social media.

Rivers was originally sentenced to life on a second-degree burglary charge.

He was apprehended on November 11, when he turned himself in on an unrelated identity theft charge. Rivers is being held without bail on charges of first degree murder, second-degree assault, and identity theft.

He faces another life sentence if convicted in the murder. 

Source: Daily Mail