The man convicted in the 2022 hammer attack on Paul Pelosi apologized and did so again sentenced to 30 years in prison The sentencing hearing in his case was reopened on Tuesday due to a judicial error.
David DePape was given the sentence identical to the one he received earlier this month after being found guilty assaulting former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband in their San Francisco home. DePape was convicted of assault and attempted kidnapping in November.
The hearing was reopened after the judge overseeing the trial made an error during the May 17 sentencing when she did not give DePape an opportunity to make a statement before sentencing.
Prosecutors noticed the error that afternoon and notified the court. DePape’s attorneys immediately appealed.
Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley wrote at the time that “no party has been brought to the court’s attention” that she had not allowed Mr. DePape to speak, a requirement of federal criminal proceedings. “Since the court failed to do so, it committed clear error,” she wrote.
During Tuesday’s hearing, which lasted just 25 minutes, Corley apologized for not giving DePape a chance to speak and set aside the verdict.
DePape then spoke briefly, apologizing for attacking Mr. Pelosi and saying she should have left when he found out Mrs. Pelosi was not there. He also said the phone call he made from jail to a local television station after his arrest was a “stupid, immature call.”
After DePape spoke, the judge thanked him for his speech, explained the seriousness of the crime and sentenced him to the same sentence he had previously handed down.
DePape’s sentence is 30 years for the assault charge and 20 years for the concurrent attempted kidnapping charge. He was given credit for time served for the 18 months he was in custody.
While his federal case winds down, DePape will be tried in state court. A hearing in the state’s case is scheduled for Wednesday.
