A member of the “Charles Manson family” received a 878-years-to-life term in prison Friday in what is believed to be one of the longest sentences ever handed down in Sacramento County and maybe the state.
Michael Lee Monfort, 47, who pleaded guilty as charged to 32 armed robberies, was sentenced under the state’s three-strikes law. His prior convictions included two murders and two robberies.
Although technically eligible for parole, Monfort must serve 750 years, six months and 15 days before his first parole hearing in 2746, said Deputy District Attorney Robert Morgester. The only moment Monfort changed the chiseled-stone look on his face was when Judge Michael G. Virga knocked 128 days off his sentence for time served and good behavior.
Breaking his pursed lips, the pale, clean-shaven Monfort smiled and said to the judge, “Thanks for the credits.” Previously, the longest sentence in Sacramento County was 400 years, according to several veteran attorneys.
Acting as his own attorney, Monfort surprised Morgester on Friday morning with a message that he had changed his mind about going to trial. “He said he wanted to stop wasting the taxpayers’ money,” Morgester said. “He figured all it took for a life sentence was a conviction on any of his 32 counts.”
More than 20 years ago, Monfort pleaded guilty to the second-degree murders of a young Marine and his wife. Lauren Willett, 19, was found shot through the head in a shallow grave under a Stockton home. The headless body of James T. Willett, 26, was found buried in a redwood grove near Guerneville.
Morgester said police have confirmed that Monfort is a former member of the Charles Manson family. Manson and several of his cult followers are serving prison terms for the 1969 slaughter of actress Sharon Tate and others in Los Angeles.
Also arrested with Monfort in connection with Lauren Willett’s 1972 murder were three women described as Manson girlfriends, among them Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme. The charge against her eventually was dropped. Several years later, however, Fromme was arrested in Sacramento for the attempted murder of President Ford. Fromme is serving a life sentence.
Monfort and two others were arrested last year after an eight-month series of armed robberies including restaurants, yogurt shops and video stores.