A former biotech executive who wounded his ex-business partner and estranged brother-in-law in separate shootings in their La Jolla homes was sentenced Friday to 50 years to life in prison, plus two additional life terms.
Hans A. Petersen, 51, of University City, was convicted in March of two counts of attempted murder and other charges.
Deputy District Attorney Amy Maund described Petersen as “a scary man, a dangerous man” who committed “horrific crimes” when he shot UC San Diego researcher and former business partner Steven Dowdy and Ron Fletcher, the brother of his estranged wife, on Sept. 18, 2013.
In previous hearings, the prosecutor said Peterson targeted Dowdy because he was angry over his 2010 firing and felt that his professional reputation had been tarnished. The defendant went after Fletcher because he was upset that his marriage was over and that a piece of property they owned together was about to be sold, she said.
In a statement, Peterson said he was under the influence of prescription medication at the time of the shootings, which he likened to a dream where “we remember bits and pieces of these dreams and don’t have control over what we’re doing in them.”
He said he began to slowly change after beginning the medication in 2009.
“I’d like the victims to know how deeply sorry I am for what I did,” Peterson said.
Neither Maund nor Judge Leo Valentine Jr. bought the defendants side of the story.
The prosecutor noted there was only a trace amount of the medication in Peterson’s system when he was tested after the shootings.
“This is not thoughtless conduct,” Maund told the judge. “This is the conduct of a killer — a murderer.”
The judge said it was difficult to accept that Peterson could have acted in an “unconscious” manner, yet still locate the two people with whom he had grievances.
He denied a defense request to run Peterson’s prison terms concurrently, which would have meant a 25 years to life sentence.
Dowdy told the judge he needs to take pain medication daily and frequently wakes up in the middle of the night so he can check surveillance cameras at his residence. He said he also installed a high fence and motion detectors at his house, where his wife and children no longer feel safe.
“I will never forget the terror I felt when I was shot and had blood coming from two sides of my body,” Dowdy said.
The defendant was acquitted of trying to kill Dowdy’s wife, Lisa.
Much of the altercation between Petersen and Fletcher after shots were fired was caught on security video. Defense attorney Marc Carlos said the defendant’s behavior was irrational.
Maund said Petersen fired his gun into Dowdy’s bedroom about 3 a.m., wounding Dowdy in the hip. Three hours later, Petersen broke into Fletcher’s home, shooting his brother-in-law in the stomach as he got out of the shower.
The judge also ordered Peterson to pay nearly $86,000 in restitution to Dowdy and a yet to be determined amount to Fletcher. A hearing on the restitution order was scheduled for Thursday at 9 a.m.
— City News Service
