Bay Area

Mayor London Breed’s Brother Eligible to Shorten 44-Year Sentence

The brother of San Francisco Mayor London Breed is eligible to shorten his 44-year prison sentence after changes to California’s definition of murder, a judge ruled Monday. Napoleon Brown has served two decades in prison for robbing a San Francisco diner with a man in 2000. As they fled over the Golden Gate Bridge, the driver of the vehicle, Brown’s girlfriend, fell out of the car and was fatally run over by a drunk driver.

Published

3 years ago

March 14, 2023

Oakland Post

Brown will be resentenced only on robbery and carjacking convictions, not manslaughter, along with enhancements for possessing a firearm and a previous "strike" conviction.

By Olivia Wynkoop
Bay City News

The brother of San Francisco Mayor London Breed is eligible to shorten his 44-year prison sentence after changes to California’s definition of murder, a judge ruled Monday.

Napoleon Brown has served two decades in prison for robbing a San Francisco diner with a man in 2000. As they fled over the Golden Gate Bridge, the driver of the vehicle, Brown’s girlfriend, fell out of the car and was fatally run over by a drunk driver.

Prosecutors allege that Brown pushed the woman out of the car and committed involuntary manslaughter. He was convicted of murder in 2005 based on a statement the woman said to police before she died.

Brown was granted a new trial in 2009 and he pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter in 2011.

San Francisco Superior Court Judge Brendan Conroy’s ruling came from a 2018 change in the state’s definition of murder, which declares a person can only be charged with murder if they killed someone with intent or reckless indifference.

Brown will be resentenced only on robbery and carjacking convictions, not manslaughter, along with enhancements for possessing a firearm and a previous “strike” conviction.

Brown’s attorney Marc Zilversmit said Brown’s best outcome would be a sentence of credit for time served, which is roughly 23 years. He could also have a reduced sentence time between 23 and 36 years. Prosecutors could still argue for the same sentence of 44 years, he said.

“The resentencing in Mr. Brown’s case is based upon changes to the law of murder and to sentencing laws. His case is one of hundreds of such cases in California in the past four years,” Zilversmit said. “These changes to the laws were made by the Legislature in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s order to reduce the number of prisoners in California, and the Legislature’s recognition that the past policies of mass incarceration have been costly and failed to make us safer.”

Zilversmit previously requested for the state attorney general’s office to take over the case, as District Attorney Brooke Jenkins was appointed by Breed, though the judge denied the request, he said. According to Zilversmit, the judge said pre-existing firewalls will prevent Jenkins from being involved in the case.

The District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

###

OliviaWynkoop1316p03/07/23

CONTACT: sfda.media@sfgov.org

Marc Zilversmit, attorney for Brown marc@zdefender.com

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: Image(s) related to this story can be obtained from the following Bay City News Service web link(s):

https://www.baycitynews.com/images/20221122-BCN-UNIONSQUARE-8.jpg

San Francisco Mayor London Breed joins a flock of city and business leaders to launch a strategic plan to bring Union Square back to life on Nov. 22, 2022. (Olivia Wynkoop/Bay City News)

/www/bcn/general/03/newsclip.23.03.07.13.18.01.1.txt

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Man Found Guilty Tuesday in Connection With 2020 Murder, Attempted Robbery

Don't Miss

Delayed, Not Denied: Vietnam Veteran Col. Paris Davis Finally Receives Medal of Honor

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Alameda County

Seth Curry Makes Impressive Debut with the Golden State Warriors

Seth looked comfortable in his new uniform, seamlessly fitting into the Warriors’ offensive and defensive system. He finished the night with an impressive 14 points, becoming one of the team’s top scorers for the game. Seth’s points came in a variety of ways – floaters, spot-up three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, and a handful of aggressive drives that kept the Oklahoma City Thunder defense on its heels.

Published

5 days ago

December 4, 2025

Oakland Post

Seth Curry is a point guard on the GSW team.Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

Tuesday night was anything but ordinary for fans in San Francisco as Seth Curry made his highly anticipated debut as a new member of the Golden State Warriors. Seth didn’t disappoint, delivering a performance that not only showcased his scoring ability but also demonstrated his added value to the team.

At 35, the 12-year NBA veteran on Monday signed a contract to play with the Warriors for the rest of the season.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came before Seth even scored his first points. As he checked into the game, the Chase Center erupted into applause, with fans rising to their feet to give the newest Warrior a standing ovation.

The crowd’s reaction was a testament not only to Seth’s reputation as a sharpshooter but also to the excitement he brings to the Warriors. It was clear that fans quickly embraced Seth as one of their own, eager to see what he could bring to the team’s championship aspirations.

Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry – Seth’s brother – did not play due to an injury. One could only imagine what it would be like if the Curry brothers were on the court together. Magic in the making.

Seth’s debut proved to be a turning point for the Warriors. Not only did he contribute on the scoreboard, but he also brought a sense of confidence and composure to the floor.

While their loss last night, OKC 124 – GSW 112, Seth’s impact was a game-changer and there’s more yet to come. Beyond statistics, it was clear that Seth’s presence elevated the team’s performance, giving the Warriors a new force as they look to make a deep playoff run.