What does 15 years to life mean for sentencing?

[Utilit99 4,099]

Why is this 15 to life? Why not 'life'? 

Gee, I wonder what color?

 

Quote

SANTA ANA, Calif.  — A Southern California man who killed his wife and propped up her body on a sofa as her children opened Christmas presents was sentenced Friday to 15 years to life in prison.

William Wallace, 39, of Anaheim was convicted of second-degree murder earlier this year for the 2011 killing of Za’Zell Preston, 26.

Authorities said Preston suffered repeated abuse from Wallace during the marriage.

Preston's mother spoke at his sentencing hearing, the Orange County Register reported.

"He beat and tortured my daughter and at the same time mentally assassinated her children," Saidell Preston said. "He showed her no mercy. Let’s show him no mercy."

Prosecutors said Preston was taking college classes in hopes of becoming a domestic violence counselor when she was fatally beaten on Dec. 24 or early Dec. 25 in 2011 by Wallace, who already had served jail time for beating her.

Prosecutors said the couple had gone to a neighbor’s Christmas Eve party, and a neighbor described hearing an argument later that night.

The next morning, according to the prosecution, Wallace dragged his wife’s body from the bedroom to the living room couch, placed sunglasses on her and told the children: "Mommy ruined Christmas, she got drunk and ruined Christmas."

He then had them open their Christmas presents, authorities said.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-man-who-killed-wife-propped-body-up-as-kids-opened-christmas-presents-is-sentenced

[KSB2424 3,148]

I'm assuming it means a life sentence with the possibility of parole in 15 years. 

[RaiderHaters Revenge 4,235]

FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEDOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Utilit99 4,099]

Just now, KSB2424 said:

I'm assuming it means a life sentence with the possibility of parole in 15 years. 

How can you give someone a possibility of parole in 15 years to a guy who killed his wife, dragged her to the couch, put sunglasses on her, and had her kids open Christmas presents in front of the dead woman? Mother that is, to the kids. 

[RaiderHaters Revenge 4,235]

6 minutes ago, Utilit99 said:

How can you give someone a possibility of parole in 15 years to a guy who killed his wife, dragged her to the couch, put sunglasses on her, and had her kids open Christmas presents in front of the dead woman? Mother that is, to the kids. 

because jails cause crime

 

[Utilit99 4,099]

3 minutes ago, RaiderHaters Revenge said:

because jails cause crime

 

Capital punishment would stop it. For this guy at least.

[Cdub100 3,823]

Seriously what's the point of keeping this guy alive?

[Mike Honcho 5,065]

It was the working title Skid Row had until they settled on 18 years.  

[IGotWorms 4,057]

Well jeez, he shouldn’t have let them open their presents??

[Utilit99 4,099]

1 hour ago, Cdub100 said:

Seriously what's the point of keeping this guy alive?

No point. 

[KSB2424 3,148]

1 hour ago, Cdub100 said:

Seriously what's the point of keeping this guy alive?

So pretentious, you act like you've never had a bad day.  gah.