Suge Knight's Final Sentence: The 5 Shocking Details Of His 28-Year Prison Time And 2034 Release Date
Marion "Suge" Knight: Full Biography and Profile
Marion Hugh Knight Jr., universally known as "Suge" Knight, is one of the most polarizing and influential figures in the history of hip-hop.
His career trajectory from a promising college football player to the co-founder of one of the most iconic record labels in music history is as dramatic as his fall from grace.
- Full Name: Marion Hugh Knight Jr.
- Date of Birth: April 19, 1965
- Birthplace: Compton, California
- Nickname Origin: "Suge" is a childhood nickname, short for "Sugar."
- Career Highlight: Co-founded Death Row Records in the early 1990s (around 1991–1992) with Dr. Dre and The D.O.C.
- Death Row Records Legacy: Under his leadership, the label released seminal albums by artists like Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Tupac Shakur, popularizing the West Coast gangsta rap genre.
- Current Incarceration: Serving a 28-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter.
The 28-Year Sentence and the 2015 Incident
The sentence Suge Knight is currently serving stems from a highly publicized and tragic incident that occurred on January 29, 2015, in Compton, California.
The event took place near the filming location for the biographical drama Straight Outta Compton.
Fatal Hit-and-Run Details
The incident began as an argument between Knight and two men, Cle "Bone" Sloan and Terry Carter, in the parking lot of a Tam's Burger restaurant.
During the altercation, Knight drove his truck in reverse and then forward, running over both men.
Terry Carter, a 55-year-old businessman and a friend of Knight's, was killed in the incident. Cle "Bone" Sloan was injured.
Knight fled the scene but was later arrested.
Originally charged with murder, Knight eventually accepted a plea deal.
In September 2018, he pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter.
This plea was part of a deal that resulted in a 28-year prison sentence.
The sentence was structured to include 11 years for the voluntary manslaughter charge, plus a mandatory 17 years due to a "three-strikes" law violation, as Knight had previous felony convictions.
The Final Verdict: When Suge Knight Walks Free
The most pressing question for anyone following Knight's story is his potential release date. The answer is now definitive, especially following his recent failed attempt to overturn the conviction.
Parole Eligibility and Release Date
Suge Knight is currently serving his 28-year sentence at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, California.
Based on the terms of his 2018 plea agreement and sentencing, Marion Knight will not be eligible for parole until October 2034.
At the time of his potential release, the former music executive will be 69 years old.
He received credit for the approximately 3.5 years of time served while awaiting trial, which was factored into the final sentence calculation.
Recent Appeal Denied (2024/2025 Update)
In a significant legal development that confirms his long incarceration, Knight's attempt to overturn his conviction was officially denied.
In early 2024, or as recently as March 2025 according to some reports, a Los Angeles County Judge rejected the appeal.
The judge cited the fact that Knight waited too long to file the appeal as a primary reason for the denial.
This denial effectively solidifies the 28-year sentence and the 2034 parole eligibility date, closing the door on any immediate possibility of an early release.
The Financial Fallout and Civil Suit
In addition to the criminal sentence, Knight faced severe financial penalties related to the death of Terry Carter.
Carter's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Knight, which resulted in a massive judgment.
In 2019, a jury ordered Knight to pay the Carter family a total of $1.5 million in damages.
This civil judgment adds another layer to the consequences of the 2015 incident, highlighting the full scope of the legal and financial ruin that followed his conviction.
The story of Suge Knight is a cautionary tale of power, violence, and the ultimate reckoning with the law. From the heights of the Death Row Records empire to the confines of the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, his sentence time is a stark marker of his final legacy. Unless a future appeal or clemency is granted—which is highly unlikely given the recent denial—the hip-hop world will not see Marion "Suge" Knight as a free man until the autumn of 2034.
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