Third strike gives SLO man 30 to life for domestic violence

June 21, 2013

A San Luis Obispo man received a 30 years to life sentence Thursday for a domestic violence conviction. [Tribune]

In February, a jury found Robert Eugene Deutsch guilty of domestic violence for strangling his girlfriend. Due to having committed previous felonies, Deutsch qualified for an enhanced sentence under the three-strikes law, which requires a minimum prison term of 25-years-to life.

Deutsch, 37, allegedly threatened to kill his girlfriend and bury her where no one would find her while strangling her in October 2012. He allegedly told her during the attack that he was going to kill her to “make going to prison for life worth it.”

Deutsch’s domestic violence conviction included enhancements of making criminal threats and dissuading a victim from reporting a crime.

Prior to committing domestic violence, Deutsch received three armed robbery convictions and one residential burglary conviction in San Luis Obispo County. He also received and eight-year prison term for burglary in New Jersey.

Last year, California voters approved a revision to the three strikes law that makes it only apply to felons who have committed “serious or violent” crimes.