California Court Rejected Murderer Appeal

A state appeals court denied Justin Ashley Flint's request to have his murder sentence reduced.

Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Law Enforcement

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a monumental stone pillar, evoking the solemn nature of a state appellate court ruling. — The California 2nd District Court of Appeal has upheld the murder conviction of Justin Ashley Flint, denying his request to reduce his sentence for the 2006 killing of an off-duty deputy. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The California 2nd District Court of Appeal has upheld the conviction of Justin Ashley Flint, denying his request for re-sentencing in the 2006 killing of an off-duty deputy. Flint was convicted of first-degree murder and attempted robbery in the death of Maria Cecilia Rosa.

Why it matters

The court determined that Flint was aware the victim was a peace officer during the commission of the crime, which disqualified him from receiving a reduced sentence under recent state law changes. This ruling reinforces the legal weight of identifying an officer during an incident.

Flint remains sentenced to 29 years to life for his role in the 2006 murder of a 30-year-old Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy. Judge Daniel Lowenthal previously denied the petition in August 2023.

The players

Justin Ashley Flint

He is a convicted murderer who has been serving a sentence of 29 years to life in prison since 2008.

Maria Cecilia Rosa

She was a 30-year-old off-duty Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy who was killed during a robbery in Long Beach.

Frank Christopher Gonzalez

He was a co-defendant in the case who received a death sentence for his role in the murder.

California 2nd District Court of Appeal

This is the judicial body that issued the recent ruling regarding the sentencing appeal.

Daniel Lowenthal

He is the judge who originally denied the defendant's petition for re-sentencing in the lower court.

The details

The appellate panel confirmed that the prosecution proved the victim presented her badge and identified herself as a peace officer before she was killed in Long Beach. While co-defendant Frank Christopher Gonzalez was sentenced to death in 2008, Flint’s conviction for his role in the crime was also previously upheld by an appeals court in 2010.

Flint and Gonzalez were sentenced for their crimes in 2008.
A state appeals court first upheld Flint's conviction in 2010.
The California Supreme Court upheld Gonzalez's conviction in 2022.
Judge Daniel Lowenthal denied Flint's bid for re-sentencing in August 2023.
The appeals court panel issued the current ruling on October 2, 2026.

Legal Context

This case illustrates the limits of recent sentencing reform legislation in California as courts parse the eligibility of defendants involved in crimes against peace officers. The ruling mirrors established precedents where identifying a victim as an officer substantially alters legal outcomes.

The court's decision confirms that crimes committed against off-duty peace officers carry persistent legal consequences that remain enforceable despite changing sentencing standards. Residents and local businesses in Long Beach are not subject to new safety changes as this ruling strictly concerns an existing criminal case.

The takeaway

This ruling highlights how specific circumstances, such as knowledge of a victim's status as a peace officer, can preclude inmates from benefiting from broader legislative shifts in sentencing. It serves as a reminder that violent crime convictions involving law enforcement personnel remain subject to strict appellate scrutiny.