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OFFICE OF THE
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
COUNTY OF SHASTA
Gerald C. Benito
District Attorney
Daniel E. Flynn
Assistant District Attorney
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OFFICE OF THE
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Gerald C. Benito
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Daniel E. Flynn |
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Three
Striker Sentenced to
Life in Prison
August 12, 2008
Yesterday, the Honorable Judge Baker sentenced Arthur Milton Colson to 75 years to life in state prison. On June 4, 2008, a jury convicted Colson of Receiving Stolen Property, and two counts of Unlawful Taking and Driving a Stolen Vehicle. The next day, the Honorable Judge Baker found Colson’s two prior “strike” convictions to be true.
Colson was convicted of the August 15, 2006 theft of a Chevrolet Pick-up from the storage yard of River City Pools. Colson was also convicted of the March 23, 2006 theft of a Ford F150 Truck from River City Pools after leaving another stolen vehicle, a Toyota Celica, around the corner from the storage yard of River City Pools. Colson was caught on surveillance tape at the storage yard and footprints near the Chevrolet Pick-up were later found to match Colson’s shoes.
Colson’s prior strikes were for
Residential Burglary committed in 1984 and Corporal Injury to Spouse with
Personal Infliction of Great Bodily Injury in 1990. Colson also has misdemeanor convictions for
theft and domestic violence. He has two
additional felony convictions - Corporal Injury to Spouse in 1994 and
Possession of a Controlled Substance in 2006 - neither of which are “strikes”
under the 3 strikes law. Colson also has
numerous probation and parole violations. Under the 3 strikes law, the 1994 and
2006 felony convictions could have led to a life sentence for Colson. However, Colson had the benefit of having
“strikes” stricken (dismissed) in
This case was investigated by
Detectives Chris Rathbun and Rob Peterson of the Redding Police Department and
was prosecuted by Shasta County Deputy District Attorney Emily Mees.