OAKLAND — The suspect in the killing of a popular youth mentor was allowed to plead not guilty by reason of insanity, then sentenced to life in a mental health hospital, court records show.
Daniel Stith, 40, is now serving a life sentence in a California mental institution, with the caveat that he could be released if he is deemed cured of his mental illness and a judge approves the move. Pursuant to a judge’s order, Stith was found guilty of murder, then not guilty by reason of insanity, then sentenced last January, court records show.
The murder of youth mentor Reuben Lewis III, a Concord resident, occurred on Feb. 24, 2021, at a football event in Oakland’s Concordia Park, in front of hundreds of witnesses. Lewis was a former AAU basketball league coach and youth mentor whose killing was followed by a huge outpouring of grief from the community, including public calls to curb gun violence and a vigil attended by both the mayor and police chief.
Afterwards, Stith allegedly drove to Greenly Drive, stripped naked, knocked on a random woman’s door, and repeated, “I killed someone, call the police,” before running off with his clothes and an envelope containing $900 behind.
Stith later turned himself into the San Leandro police department, this time with $20,000 in cash, according to police and witness testimony. Soon after these facts came to light, his lawyer openly doubted Stith was mentally competent for trial, sparking a lengthy process where he was reviewed by multiple psychiatrists, court records show.
There was no apparent motive. Eyewitnesses to the murder recognized Stith as a former youth football coach and local rapper, who used the stage name Danny from Sobrante.
In August 2021, he was charged with a felony for allegedly punching Alameda County Sheriff’s Deputy Troy Olson inside the Santa Rita Jail. The probable cause statement alleges Stith punched the deputy without provocation or warning on April 25, 2021, loosening three teeth in the deputy’s jawline.
After Stith was sentenced in January, there was a slight hiccup — state officials said there wasn’t enough room in the Napa State Hospital. Eventually, the state found a bed for him in a hospital in Atascadero, court records show.
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