Northstate DAs continue to fight California parole law - KRCR
NORTHSTATE AREA, Calif. — Two District Attorneys in the Northstate are determined to fight a recent California parole law.
It's called the "Elderly Parole Program," or SB-445. It originated in 2014 but became official law in January 2018. In its simplest form, SB-445 allows convicts, aged 50 and over, who have served 20 years consecutively, to be given a parole hearing. The fallout from its criteria is now starting to affect how local DAs do their jobs.
Specifically, it has forced Tehama County and Modoc County to fight to keep sexual predators, Cameron Hooker and Duane Keeney, behind bars. And that means doing things that are very uncommon for a DA, such as petitioning or writing letters to the State Parole Board in an effort to shake some branches.
"As a DA, our number one priority is public safety," said Matt Rogers, Tehama County's district attorney. "And our duty is to the community; to do everything we can to keep the community safe."
Rogers said the situation with this parole rule is "not in the people's favor; not in the favor of public safety." But he was clear that he and his office couldn't just "throw our hands in the air." Instead, Rogers hopes to make noise and hold the department of corrections accountable for their decisions. In his mind, writing letters, or starting petitions, are needed because "these are extraordinary circumstances."
Both Rogers and Modoc's District Attorney Cynthia Campbell expressed their frustrations with this program and the challenges it brings. As they see it, just because somebody is 50 or older doesn't mean they're suddenly harmless to society. And Rogers, a Red Bluff native, mentioned how Tehama County residents have not forgotten the nightmare Cameron Hooker put Colleen Stan through for seven years.
Just like in Modoc County, Hooker's actions are "still fresh," according to Rogers.
Cameron Hooker's first parole hearing was in October 2021, in San Mateo County. Rogers is pushing for him to be labeled as a "Sexually Violent Predator," which would keep Hooker in prison. His next hearing is set for April.
Duane Feeney of Modoc County will have his first parole hearing on Jun. 2, 2022.
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source: https://krcrtv.com/news/local/northstate-das-continue-to-fight-california-parole-law
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