By Bee Staff
Two men serving life sentences for Sacramento area crimes were recently denied paroles, but a woman who killed man in 1988 who she suspected of being a child molester received a second chance at earning a parole.
Robert Ramirez Vela Jr., a 34-year-old child killer, was given a 10-year denial and Frederick Brinkley, a 47-year-old kidnapper, was given a five-year denial in hearings earlier this month, said Margot Bach, spokeswoman for the Board of Parole Hearings.
Both men can request a rehearing every three years if they can show there has been a change in circumstances in his case or that new information is available.
However, board members who heard the parole request of Joy Celeste Pense reached a "split decision," Bach said. Pense, 43, was convicted of killing Tracy James Helling, 19, of Concord. She said she killed him because she believed he had molested the 3-year-old girl who she babysat, according to Bee reports.
This means Pense will soon get a hearing before the full board, Bach said.
If you want to give your opinion of an inmate's suitability for parole, you may mail a letter to:
Martin Hoshino, executive director
Board of Parole Hearings
1515 K Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
For more information on the Board of Parole Hearings, go to:
http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Divisions_Boards/BOPH/
Previous coverage:
Sacramento child killer among inmates up for parole hearings - March 4, 2010
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