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Disa Given Longest Possible Sentence for Murder of Katie Gillihan

Judge agrees with sentencing guidelines and admonishes convicted killer for not taking responsibility for his crime.

Adam Wade Disa is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison after Judge Peter Foor sentenced him to 50 years to life in prison for murdering Katie Gillihan.

"This is a mandatory sentence but even if it were not a mandatory sentence, this is what I would impart," said Foor as he handed down the punishment.  "Mr. Disa has, throughout these proceedings, really taken no responsibility for what his actions were." 

Disa, dressed in green and white striped jail garb showed no emotion as Judge Foor went on to say that his explanation of what happened the morning Gillihan died was "absolutely preposterous".

Disa was sentenced under the guidelines of California’s three-strikes law, which requires the judge to add 25 years to the determinate part of a prison term for defendants convicted of their third strike.  Disa had two prior convictions for domestic assault.

Prisoners who are serving time for violent crimes such as murder are not eligible for good behavior credits so Disa won’t be considered for parole until 2061.  He does receive credit for the time he has already spent behind bars while awaiting trial.

who was adopted at birth, was living with Disa at the time of her death, but had been planning to move to Texas to be near her biological father

Her mother Donna Gillihan read a statement prior to sentencing in which she asked Judge Peter Foor to give Disa the longest possible sentence.  “It makes me feel better-a little better. Maybe,” said Gillihan after the sentencing hearing.

Disa’s mother and sister left the court building after a brief discussion with Ken Lee, the public defender assigned to Disa’s case. 

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If there’s something in this article you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, call editor JB Davis at 707-628-0051 or email him at benicia@patch.com.

jeff bridges November 26, 2012 at 08:23 pm
Cue Bobby Richardson VS. Robert Livesay racial/political arguement...
JB Davis (Editor) November 26, 2012 at 08:29 pm
Why? This was never about race. If anything its about anger management, keeping felons in prison, domestic violence, loss, a young life cut short, the affect of crime on two families and a young man who, if he ever gets out of prison, will be old when that day comes. No, this isn't about race.
jeff bridges November 26, 2012 at 08:36 pm
I know it wasn't about race or politics--neither are the majority of the articles on the Patch, but it seems like everyone wants to argue about race & politics. If you look at any patch article with a significant ammount of comments, they'll consist of a certain few individuals arguing about race or politics. My original comment wasn't directed at the article itself, its just pointing out (sarcastically) the lack of variety in the comment sections of the patch articles.
Kenny November 26, 2012 at 09:24 pm
And you helped that, how?
Babaloo November 27, 2012 at 02:42 am
Sure it is. everything with "Booby" is all about "RACE"..it's all about his rhetoric. JB Why do you allow such garbage ? Why is it allowed to continue ?
"The Black Panther of Poetry" November 27, 2012 at 05:02 pm
Read for yourself people!!! I only respond to racist comments, not spew them: "Denial is not just a River in Egypt"!!!
jimpugh 11:23 am on Friday, November 18, 2011 The city of Vallejo has turned into a killing field these days. It is no wonder given that the size of the force directed to control such things is just no longer large enough to stop these things from happening. It is sad that enough though Officer Capoot was wearing full body armour, he was unable to keep from being fatally shot. Today the animals are controling the Zoo which is now called Vallejo. jimpugh Joe Feltcher 1:34 pm on Sunday, July 15, 2012 Thank you BPD for keeping tight reigns on this trash that keeps coming into Benicia to stir up trouble. Personally I am getting sick of it. Babaloo 2:09 pm on Sunday, July 15, 2012 Thank YOU Benicia PD.....who took the trash out,,,wuf wuf woof woof... Joe Feltcher 10:03 am on Thursday, June 28, 2012 I look forward to reading an article about robberies, bank holdups, and copper thefts from the Industrial park that do NOT involve Blacks from out of town. Please let me know when THAT article is published.... Joe Feltcher 4:54 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 Can we close the border with Vallejo? Is that feasible? I'd rather the City spend money on that than solar panels. Michaelangelo 6:15 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 Well regardless of who ever fired the shots, closing the border between Benicia and Vallejo is not a bad idea.

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These cowards see me all the time but they are too chicken shit to approach me with their BULL!!!
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Bobby no one here is afraid of someone who's waist size exceeds their height.
"The Black Panther of Poetry" June 11, 2013 at 10:20 pm
And so to is that other part. You know what i am referring to.
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