Paul Flores wants to delay his sentencing in Kristin Smart case. Here’s why
Paul Flores, who was convicted of murdering Cal Poly student Kristin Smart in October, has asked for his sentencing date to be pushed back, according to Monterey County Superior Court’s website.
Smart went missing in May 1996 after an off-campus party in San Luis Obispo. Flores had long been a person of interest in the case, and was arrested in April 2021 and charged with murder.
A jury convicted Flores of first-degree murder on Oct. 18, the same day that a separate jury acquitted his father, Ruben Flores, of helping his son conceal the crime.
Both juries heard virtually the same evidence during the three-month long trial.
Flores is currently set to be sentenced on Dec. 9. He faces 25 years to life in prison, or a life prison sentence without the possibility of parole, for the crime.
According to court documents obtained by The Tribune, Robert Sanger, Flores’ lawyer, is “in the process of preparing a comprehensive motion for a new trial and other post-verdict, pre-conviction motions.”
Sanger will not be able to file and serve the motions before Thanksgiving because his team has not received the court transcripts they requested, the motion said. The transcripts are necessary to properly prepare the motions.
Even if Sanger’s motions can be filed before Flores’ sentencing date, the San Luis Obispo County “district attorney will undoubtedly want time to respond and the court will need time to consider the pleadings before a hearing, “ the motion said.
The motion to push back the sentencing date will be heard at 9 a.m. Dec. 2, according to an email from Monterey County Superior Court.
This story was originally published November 21, 2022 at 3:54 PM with the headline "Paul Flores wants to delay his sentencing in Kristin Smart case. Here’s why."
