Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday reversed an August decision by the California Parole Board to grant parole to Jesus Cecena, the man convicted of shooting and killing an SDPD officer in 1978.
Cecena, 57, was a 17-year-old gang member when he shot and killed Officer Archie Buggs. Cecena shot Buggs four times during a traffic stop.
Cecena was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life with no parole, but his term was later modified, giving him a chance at parole under a state law that allows youth offenders serving life sentences to petition for release once they have served at least 15 years.
California Gov. Jerry Brown has rejected parole for Cecena in 2014, 2016 and 2017. Cecena's next parole hearing is scheduled for 2020.
The governor cited Cecena's "resistance to explore the motivations behind the killing."
Cecena has said in the past that he shot the officer because he feared abandonment by his father if he were to receive a traffic ticket and caught with alcohol.
