Former Attorney's 21-Year Prison Term Upheld in Hollywood Hills Slaying

By City News Service

A state appeals court panel has upheld a former New York attorney's 21-year prison sentence for fatally shooting his girlfriend at his Hollywood Hills home in 2007.

The three-justice panel from California's 2nd District Court of Appeal noted that the sentence imposed on David Mahler was done "in accordance with the plea agreement," in which he pleaded guilty last year to voluntary manslaughter and admitted a firearm use enhancement for the May 27, 2007, shooting death of Kristin Baldwin.

Baldwin's body was discovered in June 2007 in the desert near Barstow by good Samaritans who stopped to help a stranded motorist.

He was initially convicted in September 2009 of second-degree murder and sentenced a month later to 40 years to life in prison.

But a state appellate court panel cited an improper jury instruction in reversing his murder conviction in September 2011.

Just before being re-sentenced, Mahler said, "A man really shouldn't be defined by his worst moment in his life," noting that it was his worst moment.

He told the judge that he lives with remorse every day and wants to make a "good contribution to society."

The murder charge against Mahler was dismissed as a result of his plea.