The Selling of Puente/Sacramento News & Review/March 1, 1990

 
I was doing some freelance work for several publications during that year after leaving the Union and getting a PIO job with the state, allowing me to do this piece for the Sacramento News & Review. When the first book on the Puente saga was about to be released, we got an advance copy and I wrote this on deadline in an afternoon, and it ended up as the SN&R’s cover story that week. I remember not really liking this book for several reasons: 1) I felt that it didn’t capture any of the color that made this story so gripping; 2) Other than an interview with Puente, the book broke no new ground, left out many key details, and was based almost exclusively on a draft county report (see my story “Report Criticized”); and 3) I felt strongly that it was too early for book because Puente’s trial had yet to begin and no one even knew if any of the 9 murder charges would stick (Puente ended up being convicted of three murder charges). But I loved SN&R’s play of my piece and the cover was very cool.
(Click for Page 2)SN%26R2.htmlshapeimage_5_link_0

Click for Page 2