Watch CBS News

Appeals Court Rules That 254-Year Sentence For SoCal Rapist Was Unconstitutional

LONG BEACH (AP) — A federal appeals court has rejected the virtual life sentence for a Southern California serial rapist.

The court in San Francisco ruled Wednesday that Roosevelt Moore shouldn't have been given a collective sentence of 254 years because he was only 16 at the time of the crimes.

Moore was convicted of rape, kidnapping, robbery and other crimes for attacking four women in the Belmont Shore area of Long Beach in 1991.

A panel of the Ninth District Court of Appeals said federal law prohibits giving juveniles life sentences without chance of parole in non-murder cases. It concluded his sentence was unconstitutional.

The case will be returned to a lower federal court for re-sentencing.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.