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Donny Love, Jr., was one of the county’s first men to plead guilty to and be convicted of gang-related pimping last year.
And like others pleading before the mercy of the court, Love told the judge about his family before his sentencing. His little brothers consider him a role model. He has nieces and sisters that he would hate to see living the lifestyle of a prostitute. And he talked about his mother.
“I’m not putting the blame on my mother, but her never being in my life, always in and out of prison, and her being on drugs, played a big part in my case, me being angry all the time,” Love wrote to the judge.
But he only mentioned his father in passing. He said being in prison would be hard for his little brothers without their mother and father. The judge sentenced Love to six years in prison.
Last week, prosecutors announced that a federal grand jury indicted Love’s father, Donny Love, Sr., 43, on charges related to the 2008 bombing of the federal courthouse downtown.
If convicted of the most serious charges, he would face multiple life sentences. Three other people accused of participating in the bombing have already pleaded guilty and await sentencing.
It’s unclear whether the son’s investigation and father’s alleged participation in the bombing are in any way connected. Donny Love, Sr.’s indictment gives no indication of his alleged motivation for participating in the bombing. And federal authorities declined to comment on the case.
Federal and local law enforcement authorities started investigating Donny Love, Jr., in February 2008 as part of a broad investigation into the Lincoln Park Street Gang. Before he moved to Menifee, Lincoln Park was also the home neighborhood of Donny Love, Sr.
The federal courthouse bombing happened in May 2008, a few months after the Lincoln Park investigation started. Police arrested Donny Love, Jr., for pimping in November 2008.
Donny Love, Sr., is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow for arraignment proceedings. I won’t be able to attend, but I’ll let you know if his alleged motivation becomes clearer.
If you know the Love family, I would also be interested in hearing from you. Please contact me by calling 619.550.5668 or sending an e-mail to keegan.kyle@voiceofsandiego.org.
— KEEGAN KYLE