Delonzo Logwood was sentenced to 12 years in state prison today, after being charged with three separate murders in 2008. The controversial case has generated news headlines and criticism of the Alameda County justice system, and questions about District Attorney Pamela Price's stance on crime and her future political prospects have been raised. Logwood received the sentence after pleading no contest to one count of voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Eric Ford, but what does this mean for the victims' families, and can the public still have faith in the county's justice system?

According to an article by Mercury News, Logwood was originally charged with the murder of three men in 2008: Eric Ford, Zaire Washington, and Richard Carter. Prosecutors alleged the killings were meant to further the interests of a West Oakland-based gang known as Ghost Town, along with its subset, the P-Team. However, the charges for the separate shootings of Carter and Washington were dismissed by Price, who said the evidence against Logwood was weak.

In a San Francisco Chronicle article, Price, a staunch reformer who took office in January, was reported to have stated that prosecutors "overcharged" Logwood when he was arrested in 2015. Price's handling of the high-profile case has been subject to much criticism and even sparked talk of a recall.

As reported by KTVU's Henry Lee, Logwood's defense attorney reacted to the sentence by stating, "I’m relieved that Mr. Logwood will stop being a pawn in the political game Pamela Price's opponents are playing."

 

UPDATE: Delonzo Logwood gets 12 yrs for vol manslaughter but could be out in 2 for 1 of 3 killings. 2 other murder cases tossed by @AlamedaCountyDA. “I’m relieved that Mr. Logwood will stop being a pawn in the political game Pamela Price's opponents are playing,” atty tells me pic.twitter.com/10DJAJ3Ehs

— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) July 13, 2023

 

Logwood, who has already served almost eight years in jail while awaiting trial since 2015, could potentially be released in as little as two years. During his sentencing, Superior Court Judge Mark McCannon expressed his concerns about Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price being too lenient in this case. While Price originally sought a 15-year sentence, the final sentence was reduced further due to complications surrounding the plea deal.

In addition to the potential recall campaign against Price, the scandal surrounding the Logwood case has raised larger questions about the functioning of Alameda County's justice system. With the dismissal of two murder charges and a reduced sentence for the third, the public, and the victims' families, may feel that justice has not been served.

During the hearing, a letter from Ford's mother was read in court, stating her belief that the 12-year sentence was unfair. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, she wrote, "We went from life to 15 years to 12 years. What will the D.A. do next?"

This sentiment echoes the concerns of Alameda County residents who fear that Price's lenient approach to criminal justice may be letting dangerous individuals off the hook too easily.