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On this page we will feature efforts by victims in other states outside of Illinois to prevent violent and dangerous offenders from being released early on parole. We believe victims voices must be empowered in this process and are happy to provide a place for any victim nationally to post cases they have concerns about and give readers the chance to help. We do not take a stand for the facts of any of these cases, we are standing for the victims who are choosing to protest.

July 2009 from Crime Victims United of California:

CVUC is active and in line with law enforcement advocates, including the California Police Chiefs Association, fighting against the early release of prisoners.  We are speaking with all Legislators and staff, but focusing on a smaller subset that are pro-public safety and who are facing competitive elections in the near future.

 California Police Chiefs Oppose Prisoners Release

http://pasadenanow.com/main/2009/07/16/california-police-chiefs-oppose-prisoners-release

California Police Chiefs Oppose Prisoners Release

As many as 20,000 prisoners maybe released if the California state legislature approves cutting about $1.2 billion is funding to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, a move Pasadena Chief of Police Bernard Melekian opposes.

“The first priority of any government is to ensure the safety of its citizens,” Melekian, who is also president of the California Police Chief Association, said in a statement. “This is true regardless of whether we are talking about  national defense or local policing. The proposed budget fails to even consider this aspect of true governance.”

Melekian added that the entire Police Chiefs Association is opposed to the proposed cuts, mostly because it would not achieve the necessary financial results.

“It will not ultimately take into account the 70 percent recidivism of those persons released from state prison,” the police chief added. “In addition to the proposal to release inmates, the current budget proposal dramatically reduces revenue to our respective cities and counties which in turn will result in cuts to our respective law enforcement budgets.

“These budget proposals put the safety of communities at risk.”

The California Police Chiefs Association represents the state’s municipal police chiefs. As a whole, the law enforcement agencies affiliated with the Association represent the protection and service of more than 78 percent of Californians.




PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR EMAIL LIST EVEN OUT OF STATE..

June 4, 2009

The Lando Family
310-4040 Greenleaf Circle
Kalamazoo, MI  49008
269-375-1034
ruthlando@yahoo.com

Dear Family and Friends,

Our family has been notified that on July 15, 2009, Gary James Eccher, ID #D36746, the murderer of our daughter, LIANNE LANDO, is once again eligible
for a parole hearing.  This hearing will be held at Avenal State Prison, Avenal, California.

The events of Saturday, August 10, 1985 still haunt our family.  A jury convicted Gary James Eccher and sentenced him to life.  The presiding judge
reduced the sentence to 15 years to life.  His crime?  After an argument, he strangled Lianne with a lamp cord, putting her in a bathtub of water to
electrocute her.  He left her to drown.

In California, a second degree murder conviction carries a life prison term. However, the criminal justice system - ironically provides little justice
for the victims of violent crimes.  Gary James Eccher continually receives parole hearings - this will be the ninth one!
And so, once again we ask for your support by writing letters of opposition to his release to ensure his continued imprisonment.

Please send letters by July 1, 2009 to:
Avenal State Prison
Att:  Classification & Parole Representation - Lifer Desk
#1 Kings Way
Avenal, CA  93204
Re:  Gary James Eccher, ID# D36746

Please send copies of your letter to the Lando family, so that we may take them   
to the hearing.

Thank you on behalf of our family.

Sincerely,

Ruth Lando

Help oppose the parole of an Alabama violent sex offender:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/denyparole_munkcaselowwillis/index.html

To read more about the case: http://survivingviolentcrime.blogspot.com/2008/10/mommy-did-that-man-ever-say-he-was.html#links

"Compassionate Parole" Denied to former follower of Charles Manson - July 2008:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-atkins16-2008jul16,0,6560440.story

To help this victim's family please write:

Kentucky Parole Board
P.O. Box 2400
Frankfort, KY 40602-2400
 
Inmate:                        Scott Arthur O'Brien
County of conviction:   Bullitt
Indictment #:                128872
Parole Eligibility:           March 2008
Murder date:                July 22, 1996
Victim:                         Kyle McCullough

Kyle was brutally murdered in a remote part of Bullitt County known as the Wilderness. O'Brien bragged to friends that he had killed Kyle after forcing him out of his (Kyle's) car and made him kneel and beg for his life.  He shot Kyle twice, at close range.  The first bullet shattered his heart and lungs. The second shot went through his right eye and shattered his brain. O'Brien stole Kyle's wallet, his Oldsmobile and his cell phone. He charged $1,500 of calls on it. "John Doe" was found by two hunters.  O'Brien used some of Kyle's money to buy a bottle of whiskey.  Drank it all that night and left on vacation the next day.  He took 2 girls with him.  They told the police that although O'Brien had Kyle's money, he drove off at gas stations without paying for any gas he pumped.  O'Brien had staged several armed robberies.  One, on July 16, 1996 (six days before he murdered Kyle) was caught on tape.  He made a plea bargain and was sentenced to 15 years for that crime. He admits to substance abuse.  Is an alcoholic and an illegal drug user. All of this by the time he was 25 years old. So, by age 25 he had:
 Substance abuse (alcohol and drugs ) causing loss of job
Armed robbery
1st. degree murder
Grand theft auto
Fraud
Theft

 
Crime Victims Action Alliance News Alert
 
 
 
Commissioner Arbaugh was confirmed to the Board of Parole Hearings on Tuesday, March 31, 2009
 
This is a Commissioner that the Crime Victims Action Alliance, in addition to the California District Attorney's Association and many individual District Attorneys throughout the state, OPPOSED.  We understand, though not present at the Confirmation hearings, that support for Commissioner Arbaugh included many inmate attorneys. 
 
Senator Denham, in the spirit of public safety, voiced his opposition to Commissioner Arbaugh and brought his, and our, concerns to the Senate Floor yesterday.  Below is a press release from Senator Denham's office regarding the vote.  We want to again thank Senator Denham for his unfaltering support of victims and his true/honest commitment to public safety.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

For Immediate Release: March 31, 2009              
Contact:  Jann Taber916/651-4012 or cell 916/525-5463                                               
 

Denham Opposes Arbaugh Confirmation
 
Sacramento - Today, Senator Jeff Denham (R-Merced) spoke out and voted against the confirmation of Troy Arbaugh as a commissioner on the Board of Parole Hearings because of Arbaugh's record of releasing convicted murders and kidnappers from prison. The State Senate did, however, confirm Arbaugh on a 30 - 5 vote.
 
Denham made available the following letter, and Arbaugh's parole release voting record, to fellow senators prior to the vote:
 
Denham Letter on Arbaugh
 
Fellow Senators:
 
I recently had my staff look into the record of Troy Arbaugh, a Commissioner on the Board of Parole Hearings who is awaiting our vote on his confirmation.  I will be opposing his confirmation and encourage you to as well.
 
Attached is a brief description of the cases in which Commissioner Arbaugh has voted to grant a release to a prisoner during his first year on the Board.  I have major concerns about the high number of these grants - 34 - which is well above the number issued by most other commissioners in their first year on the Board.
 
But as I have mentioned before, the issue is about more than just numbers of grants issued, it's also about priorities.  I've spoken to victims' rights advocates and law enforcement officials who are concerned about Commissioner Arbaugh's priorities and have voiced opposition to his confirmation.
 
After looking over the 34 cases in which he has voted to release convicted murderers and kidnappers out of prison, I hope you will join me, crime victims' rights advocates and veteran prosecutors, in opposing the confirmation of Board of Parole Hearings Commissioner Troy Arbaugh.
 
Sincerely,
JEFF DENHAM
 
 
Board of Parole Hearings Commissioner Troy Arbaugh's Parole Release Votes
 
 
Nam Huynh was convicted of 2nd degree murder for shooting his estranged wife to death in Santa Clara County in 1988.  The Governor declined to review the decision and Huynh was released.

 
 

Robert Foreman, a career criminal and drug addict, was convicted of kidnapping while armed with a deadly weapon, 18 counts of robbery with a deadly weapon and three counts of robbery during a two week crime spree in Alameda County in 1980.  The decision to release Foreman is pending review by the Governor.

 
 

Salvador Gonzalez was convicted of 2nd degree murder in the shooting death of Gregory Evans in San Joaquin County in 1983.  The Governor declined to review the decision and Gonzalez was released.

 
 

Andrew Duran was convicted of 2nd degree murder for the drive-by shooting death of a rival gang member in San Diego County in 1981.  The Governor declined to review the decision and Duran was released.

 
 

Rodolfo Avila was convicted of 1st degree attempted murder with the use of a deadly weapon for shooting at two deputy sheriffs on a Los Angeles freeway in 1990.  The decision to release Avila is pending a review by the full Board of Parole.

 
 

Roderic Opalec was convicted of 1st degree attempted murder in a gang-related retaliation drive-by shooting in the Carson area of Los Angeles County in 1990.  The Governor declined to review the decision and Opalec was released.

 
 

Christopher Carroll was convicted of 1st degree murder in the shooting death of a robbery victim outside a bar in Los Angeles County in 1979.  The Governor reversed the decision to release Carroll and another hearing is scheduled.

 
 

Marco Rose was convicted of 2nd degree murder in a gang-related drive-by shooting death of a rival gang member in Los Angeles in 1984.  The Governor declined to review the decision and Rose was released.

 
 

An Nguyen was convicted of 2nd degree murder for strangling his wife to death with an electric cord in front of their children in Orange County in 1982.  The Governor reversed the decision to release Nguyen and another hearing has been scheduled.

 
 

Eddie Jones was convicted of 2nd degree murder in the beating death of a 60-year old man in Orange County in 1988.  The Governor reversed the decision to release Jones and another hearing has been scheduled.

 
 

Alfred Rico was convicted of 2nd degree murder for shooting Tammy Frey to death in Sacramento County in 1990.  The Governor reversed the decision to release Rico and another hearing has been scheduled.

 
 

Jimmie Sole was convicted of 2nd degree murder for shooting his ex-wife to death in a bar in Petaluma (Sonoma County) in 1979.  The Governor reversed the decision to release Sole and another hearing has been scheduled.

 
 

Michael Pluth was convicted of 1st degree murder for beating David Hernandez to death with a pipe wrench and a board in Whittier in 1978.  The Governor declined to review the decision and Pluth was released.

 
 

Sabino Jacinto was convicted of 2nd degree murder with the use of a firearm in the beating and shooting death of another baseball player during a fight in Kern County in 1985.  The Governor declined to review the decision and Jacinto was released.

 
 

Jose Cervantes was convicted of 2nd degree murder for using a firearm during the commission of a gang crime during which he shot and killed 14-year old Aldolfo Espinoza in Oakland in 1991.  The Governor reversed the decision to release Cervantes and another hearing has been scheduled.

 
 

David Cooley was convicted of 2nd degree murder and DUI with great bodily injury for the death of one minor girl and the permanent and severe disabling of another minor girl during a car crash in Nevada County in 1978.  The decision to release Cooley was reversed by the Governor and another hearing has been scheduled.

 
 

Donny Simanjuntak was convicted of three counts of 1st degree attempted murder for firing a gun at another car during a gang retaliation in Los Angeles in 1995.  The Governor has requested a full board hearing on the decision to release Simanjuntak.

 
 

Herbert Blake was convicted of 2nd degree murder in the shooting death of Rodney Franklin in Los Angeles County in 1986.  The Governor has requested a full board hearing on the decision to release Blake.

 
 

John Meeker was convicted of manslaughter and DUI, with prior DUI's, for killing Jose Jimenez during a car crash in Los Angeles in 1998.  The decision to release Meeker is pending an upcoming hearing.

 
 

Andre Brown was convicted of 2nd degree murder for the stabbing and beating death of Leonardo Derontes during a fight on State Street in Santa Barbara in 1990.  The decision to release Brown was reversed by the Governor and another hearing has been scheduled.

 
 

Calvin Swift was convicted of 2nd degree murder with a deadly weapon for stabbing Richard Joslin to death during a fight on Eddy Street in San Francisco in 1985.  The Governor declined to review the decision and Swift was released.

 
 

Michael Simmons was convicted of 2nd degree murder with the use of a firearm for shooting his girlfriend, Corrina Mills, in the face and killing her during a fight in San Bernardino County in 1989.  The decision to release Simmons was reversed by the Governor and another hearing has been scheduled.

 
 

Robert Rush was convicted of 2nd degree murder with the use of a firearm for shooting his roommate, John Hines, to death with a rifle after a fight in San Bernardino in 1986.  The decision to release Rush was reversed by the Governor and another hearing has been scheduled.

 
 

Aaron Nava was convicted of 2nd degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon for the stabbing and shooting death of a bar patron during a fight outside a Long Beach bar in 1986.  The decision to release Nava is pending review by the Governor.

 
 

Hassan Cromwell was convicted of 2nd degree murder and robbery in the execution shooting death of Kevin Jefferson during a robbery/drug deal gone bad in Los Angeles County in 1989.  The decision to release Cromwell is pending review by the Governor.

 
 

David Twinn was convicted of 2nd degree murder for beating 46-year old Curtis Goder to death in Los Angeles County in 1990.  The decision to release Twinn is pending review by the Governor.

 
 

Brian Thomas was convicted of 2nd degree murder for the execution shooting murder of Henry Weinberg and the attempted murder of Donald Larrison during a crime spree in Los Angeles County in 1980.  The decision to release Thomas is pending review by the Governor.

 
 

George Ledesma was convicted of 1st degree murder and armed robbery for using a sawed-off shotgun to kill 20-year old Jack Mason, a dental student working as clerk at Albertson's supermarket in Anaheim in 1976.  The decision to release Ledesma is pending review by the Governor.

 
 

James Sheridan was convicted of 2nd degree murder and assault with a firearm (an M1 Rifle) for shooting Al Irom to death in the aftermath of a drug deal gone bad in Los Angeles County in 1984.  The decision to release Sheridan is pending review by the Governor.

 
 

Rodrigo Orozco was convicted of 1st degree murder in the beating death of George Shafer, a 79-year old man, while robbing his house in Riverbank (Stanislaus County) in 1983.  The decision to release Orozco is pending review by the Governor.

 
 

Roderick Timmons was convicted of kidnapping and robbery with the use of a firearm for forcing Michael Tucker into his own car at gunpoint and later stealing the vehicle in Inglewood in 1991.  The decision to release Timmons is pending a review by the Governor.

 
 

Adolph Torres was convicted of 2nd degree murder with the use of a firearm.  No other details of the crime were made available by the Board of Parole Hearings.  The decision to release Torres is pending a review by the Governor.

 
 

Wayland To was convicted of 2nd degree murder.  No other details of the crime were made available by the Board of Parole Hearings.  The decision to release Wayland To is pending review by the Governor.

 
 

Patrick Banks was convicted of 2nd degree murder involving the use of a firearm.  No other details of the crime were made available by the Board of Parole Hearings.

 
 

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cvaa logo    The Crime Victims Action Alliance, is a registered 501c4 non-profit agency.  The Crime Victims Action Alliance works to improve and increase the rights and services to victims of violent crime.  The Crime Victims Action Alliance holds those who have been entrusted to protect the public's safety accountable for their actions and supports those who have a proven record of supporting victims rights, services and improving the public's safety. We believe that victims have been hurt enough and that we must strive to do no further harm.