Washington man granted ‘second chance’ when his life sentence was commuted, back in jail – Stonny Rivers allegedly shot a man during a drug deal gone bad
Stonny Rivers of Washington was given ‘once-in-a-lifetime second chance’ with commuted sentence in 2015
Last week, Rivers, 50, was charged with first-degree murder, he is being held without bail
During a drug robbery at the Golden Kent Motel motel, Rivers allegedly shot and killed 24-year-old David Cabrera, Nov 2
He also reportedly threatened to kill Cabrera’s girlfriend
Rivers allegedly, admitted to going to the motel to purchase crystal meth, but denies committing murder
Rivers was convicted and sentenced to life in 1996 following a sequence of robbery and assault convictions
In 2013 outgoing Gov Christine Gov Gregorie commuted River’s sentence, making for an early release in 2015
He was released under community supervision, which ended in Jan, again faces a life sentence, if convicted
Getaway driver, Theneious Swafford, 47, was also charged with first-degree murder and is accused of driving Rivers to and from the crime scene

Stonny Rivers turned himself in at the King County Jail on Nov.11 for an Identity-theft warrant, but was arrested and charged with second-degree murder
A Washington man whose life sentence was commuted in 2013 by former Gov. Christine Gregoire is back behind bars,and charged with murder.
If convicted, Stonney Rivers, may face his second life sentence.
Rivers, 50, and an accomplice was charged last week with first-degree murder and is being held without bail, court and jail records show.
Noting that Rivers may have just shot himself in the foot, prosecutor John Castleton wrote“Rivers continues to commit crimes, even when he is on community custody and even after being given a once-in-a-lifetime second chance through a governor’s commutation,”Castleton wrote in charging papers.
Rivers was sentenced to life in 1996 under Washington’s “three strikes law” following a sequence of robbery and assault convictions. However, in her last days in office in 2013, Gregorie commuted River’s sentence, allowing him to be released in 2015 under community supervision.
Rivers’ supervision ended in January.
Stonney Rivers, [left], and Theneious Swafford, [right],have been was charged last week with first-degree murder and is being held without bail. Swafford is accused of driving Rivers to and from the motel
Rivers allegedly fatally shot David Cabrera in the face during a drug robbery at a motel on November 2. He also reportedly threatened to kill Cabrera’s girlfriend.
Investigators said Just before 7:30 a.m. Theneious Swafford pulled into the parking lot of the Golden Kent Motel and spent a little over 10 minutes in a room occupied by Cabrera and his girlfriend.
The victim went to bed and his girlfriend was tidying the room when a second man entered the unlocked motel room without knocking, the charges say.
The couple told the man [later identified as Rivers], to leave, but he pulled a gun from his waistband and shot Cabrera in the face.
Cabrera’s girlfriend ran from the room and hid outside, then went to the office and asked the manager to call 911. She then followed Rivers to the parking lot of an adjacent motel.
Police identified the gunman as Rivers, matching surveillance images with his driver’s-license photo and photos posted on social media, the charges say.
On Nov. 11, Rivers turned himself in at the King County Jail on an unrelated felony warrant associated with identity-theft charges. Police questioned him about the murder, and Rivers allegedly admitted to going to the motel to purchase crystal meth, but denied killing anyone.
He is being held without bail. Rivers is also charged with second-degree assault for pointing a gun at Cabrera’s girlfriend and threatening to kill her, say the charges.
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