Man Gets 56 Years to Life in Stabbing Death

A North Hollywood man was sentenced Monday to 56 years to life for the fatal stabbing of an 18-year-old man in 1999, and his prison privileges were restricted by the judge, who accused him of jury tampering.

Shawn Probst, 36, was convicted of second-degree murder in a June retrial in Van Nuys Superior Court. His first trial ended in a hung jury in March, but new physical evidence introduced in the second trial resulted in a guilty verdict.

Probst will be incarcerated at least 56 years, having qualified for the maximum penalty under the state’s three strikes law. He has two previous convictions for assault with a deadly weapon.

His attorney has filed an appeal.

In an unusual development, Superior Court Judge Leland B. Harris said he received information that Probst attempted to tamper with the jury. Probst’s attorney, Jim Goldstein, said a female friend of Probst tried to contact at least two jurors after the June 22 conviction. His client wanted to ensure there was no improper conduct by jurors, the attorney added.

“What you did was highly improper,� the judge told Probst, adding that he was restricting the defendant’s visitation rights and phone use while in prison. “There is no legal justification for the contact with the jury. I can’t trust you, sir.�

Probst was convicted of the fatal stabbing of Daniel Singer of North Hollywood on April 24, 1999.

The defendant met a group of youths including Singer at a church carnival and followed them to a house in North Hollywood.

Later that night, witnesses said, Probst made racist comments and was talking loudly outside the house. When Singer went outside and asked him to lower his voice, Probst pulled out a knife and fatally stabbed him, Deputy Dist. Atty. Lea Purwin D’Agostino said.

Probst allegedly also stabbed 20-year-old Carlos Lopez. Jurors were unable to reach a verdict on the attempted murder charge regarding Lopez.

Probst, who testified at both trials, said he acted in self-defense.

Many of Singer’s friends who were with him when he died attended the sentencing in support of the Singer family.

“Daniel and I were one soul,� said the victim’s mother, Andrea Singer, in court. She recalled a school project he did on role models in which he featured her. “He has given me so much strength. I wonder how I keep going every day.

“Probst has given me a life sentence of pain every day of my life,� she said. “He deserves the same.�

Wearing a blue and white jail jumpsuit, Probst watched as the line of grieving friends and family spoke about their loss. He declined to speak or apologize, although his attorney said his client felt bad about the incident.

“I didn’t really want to hear his thoughts,� said the victim’s father, Mark Singer, carrying a large framed picture of his son as he left court. “He’s taken everything he can away from us.�

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D’Agostino said Probst and the victim were on two different roads in life. The stabbing capped a seven-year streak of violence for Probst, who bragged about his lifestyle to fellow inmates in county jail, she said.

Singer, on the other hand, was a Valley College student who worked at a Boston Market restaurant. He liked to write poetry and music and went with his father and 28-year-old brother to Yosemite every summer.

D’Agostino said Probst deserved the maximum penalty allowed by law.

“It takes a special kind of depraved human being to commit this kind of crime,� she said. “He doesn’t deserve any mercy or pity because he hasn’t shown any himself.�