California Governor Gavin Newsom has overturned a state parole board decision to release Derek Eugene Pettis, a man who killed a minister and shot a deputy in 1994.
Despite Pettis’ improved behavior in prison, Newsom cited his history of violence and substance abuse as reasons for reversing the parole decision.
This decision comes amid controversy over the parole board’s actions and the application of “youthful offender” status, prompting outrage and calls for the governor to intervene.
“They took him home instead of taking him to jail, and that’s the hardest part to understand,” the victim’s brother, Floyd Bryan said. “They dropped him off a block from where he lived, and when he got out he hit the deputy, grabbed his gun and shot him in the head.”
“He chased my brother, shot him in the back,” Bryan said. “He had a vest on, so as he was on his knees trying to get up, he shot him again straight down between his shoulder there where there wasn’t a vest and killed him.”
“When considered as a whole, I find the evidence shows that he currently poses an unreasonable danger to society if released from prison at this time,” Newsom wrote. “Therefore, I reverse the decision to parole Mr. Pettis.”
“Pettis could have faced the death penalty — or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole — had Deputy Wenger died in the shooting, as many victims do when they are shot in the head,” Newsom wrote. “To grant parole would be rewarding Pettis for the good fortune that the man he shot in the head happened to survive.”
Pettis will have another parole hearing in 18 months.
The governor’s final say over parole decisions has also come into focus due to another pending release case.
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