By The FirstThe suspected gunman who killed allegedly killed six people and injured 12 others in Sacramento was reportedly paid $7500 by the county before his early release from prison.
“Smiley Martin has a criminal history dating back to 2013, including his most recent sentencing in 2018 to 10 years in prison for domestic violence and assault with great bodily injury. He was sentenced after he pushed his way into his girlfriend’s home, punched her, dragged her from the residence by her hair and whipped her with a belt,” reports Fox News.
“The county’s decision to settle was purely economic, as the trial date was approaching and it was likely the trial would be pushed out for many months given the court calendar backup due to COVID. A decision was made to put an end to the case, as the costs going forward would multiply,” a county spokesperson said of Martin Smiley’s settlement.
The suspect claims he was injured by a jail guard at the Sacramento County Jail.
“I had hot water thrown on me and second degree burns,” he wrote in the lawsuit. “I was hurt and feel he left me in a dangerous predicament.”
The county settled the case for $7500.
“It’s really difficult to sue, and to prevail is just as difficult,” Sacramento Attorney Mark Reichel told CBS Sacramento. “The laws are kind of slanted toward the correctional officers.”
“No matter how reprehensible that the public may feel of someone, we as a society in America don’t therefore torture, we don’t violate their rights,” he added.
Read the full report here.
