A man convicted of murdering an elderly Bakersfield woman will spend the rest of his life in prison. On Thursday, 20-year-old David Moses was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, for the beating death of 81-year-old Dorothy Session.
Jano Mattaeo, Moses' defense attorney, pleaded with the judge to give his client 25 years to life 'with' the possibility of parole. But, Judge Gary Friedman said Moses, who was 17 at the time of the murder, was not a suitable candidate for parole.
17 News spoke with Session's daughter, Elaine Covert, after the emotional sentencing.
"It gives us some sense of being able to move forward. We know that this isn't going to happen to someone else," said Covert.
Covert cried while playing a slideshow in court to remember her mother.
"This is something my mother made. She gave it to me at my last birthday before she died, something that I will always treasure," she said, holding up a handmade doily.
Prosecutors say in April 2010, David Moses, Katila Nash, and Angelique Nash were randomly knocking on doors, looking to rob someone. The three, who were teens at the time, came to Session's home in east Bakersfield.
Prosecutors believe Angelique Nash acted as a lookout while Moses beat Session to death as she cried for help.
"The police report said he continued to hit her because she was making noise," said Covert.
Last month, a jury found Moses and Katila Nash guilty of first degree murder for Session's death. The judge declared a mistrial for Angelique Nash.
In court, Prosecutor David Wilson said Moses is not only a murderer, but a sexual predator. He said Child Protective Services' records indicate Moses sexually abused at least eight people, including his cousin who has a developmental disability.
"He doesn't care what his actions are or how they impact people. It's what I want, and I want it now," said Wilson.
Session's daughter said hope that she will see Session again in Heaven keeps her family going.
Moses' attorney said his client also deserves hope. He said Moses spent his life in and out of foster care and suffers from ADD, impulsive control disorder, and a low IQ.
"He ultimately deserves that hope that everyone in this courtroom has. Hope that he may one day get to be in front of a parole board and decide whether he should be returned to society," said Jano Mattaeo, who represents Moses.
But, Judge Friedman did not agree with Mattaeo. He said Session was a frail, defenseless grandmother, attacked in a savage and cowardly beating.
"Life without the possibility of parole is the only thing this court can do," said Friedman.
"The heinousness of the crime that was committed against my mother, I think he got justice," said Covert.
"One thing that my mom taught us was to forgive and we will forgive. But, one thing Mom always said, in that forgiveness was, I'll forgive you, but you still have to deal with the consequences of your actions," she continued.
Katila Nash was scheduled to be sentenced Thursday, but it was postponed until November at the request of her attorney.
