SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The California Republican Party has denounced the decision by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to commute the sentence of the son of a political ally.

The resolution approved Sunday by delegates attending the state party's convention condemns the former Republican governor's action, which reduced the prison sentence from 16 years to seven for Esteban Nunez.

Nunez is the son of former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, a Democrat. He pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the 2008 stabbing death of a college student in San Diego.

Schwarzenegger's action during his final night in office angered the San Diego County district attorney and enraged the victim's family. Neither was notified beforehand.

The resolution condemns the commutation and "the manner in which it was done." A Schwarzenegger spokesman says the former governor declined comment.