Juneau -- Wednesday, Senator Dave Donley (R-Anchorage) met with representatives of the press to discuss Senate Bill 268. This legislation, introduced at the request of the Alaska Hospitality Alliance (AHA), would increase the mandatory term of imprisonment to 99 years for those convicted of first degree murder during a robbery.

"The recent spate of murders of restaurant workers and taxi drivers has to be stopped," said Senator Donley. "It is unacceptable that these murderers could serve as few as 14 years in prison, after good time is deducted, for such senseless and horrifying murders. To murder a defenseless person in order to facilitate the crime of robbery is heinously evil and an especially serious danger to society," continued Senator Donley.

Senate Bill 268 would require those convicted of murder in the first degree to be sentenced to a mandatory term of imprisonment of 99 years when the defendant convicted of the murder personally caused the death of a person, other than a participant, during a robbery.

Senate Bill 268 would add this new standard to three existing provisions of law authored by Senator Donley in 1990 that also require the mandatory 99 year sentence (AS 12.55.125).

"SB 268 will be a valuable tool in deterring these heinous crimes," said Donley.

"These murderers need to know that they will pay a high price for their horrific crime and that Alaskans are not going to tolerate their actions. Alaskans should not have to be afraid to work to support themselves and their families. I am confident most Alaskans will agree with me that making these criminals serve a mandatory 99 years in prison is a reasonable price and a strong deterrent for such violent and despicable acts," stated Senator Donley.

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