Two Paso Robles men sentenced for murders
October 28, 2015
John Steven Danner
A pair of Paso Robles men received prison sentences Tuesday for second-degree murder convictions.
San Luis Obispo Judge Michael Duffy sentenced John Steven Danner, 25, to 40 years to life in prison. Duffy sentence Herbert Brown, 32, to 15 years to life.
Their crimes are unrelated. Danner shot and killed his mother’s boyfriend, and Brown beat to death his 22-month-old daughter.
A jury convicted Danner last month of second-degree murder with an enhancement for discharging a firearm during the killing.
On Feb. 7, 2014, Danner shot 47-year-old Billy Don Law 13 times. Danner, Law and Danner’s mother all lived in the same home. The shooting occurred after Law had a loud argument with Danner’s mother, Danner said.
Brown pleaded no contest last month to second-degree murder. Brown’s conviction did not come with an enhancement.
Herbert Brown III
In Feb. 2013, Brown assaulted his daughter, Lily Sommer-Brown at their Santa Ysabel Avenue home. The beating left her not breathing and with visible head and body injuries. She also suffered a fractured skull.
Brown called 911 on Feb. 18, 2013 to report his daughter had stopped breathing. The toddler died of her injuries at a children’s hospital at Stanford University.
A third Paso Robles man recently convicted of second-degree murder was sentenced earlier this month. Thomas Yanaga, 53, received 40 years to life in prison for the killing of Atascadero resident Marshall Savoy, 32.
Yanaga shot Savoy in March after the Atascadero man tried to break up an argument between Yanaga and his wife at their home.
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