Disa Given Longest Possible Sentence for Murder of Katie Gillihan

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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