DA attends 3 virtual parole hearings for lifers in 2 days
Prosecutors in Yolo County attended three virtual parole hearings for lifers in three separate prisons across the state.
The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office typically attends an average of 15 lifer hearings a year. The hearings are currently virtual, due to the COVID- 19 pandemic.
The hearings were for inmates Alejandro Sanchez, Kenneth Smith and William Keller.
On Tuesday, Deputy District Attorney Robin Johnson participated in a parole hearing for 27- year- old Sanchez who was sentenced to prison for 15 years- to- life in 2010. Sanchez, a Woodland resident, was charged with kidnapping and raping a 14- year- old girl. He was 16 at the time. Sanchez is an inmate at Avenal State Prison.
The crime occurred in January of 2009. Sanchez was driving the victim home from a party when he “stopped the car in the middle of the street and told her he was going to rape her,” according to a statement from the DA’s office. Forensic evidence was matched to Sanchez.
In denying parole, commissioners told Sanchez that he needed to continue his programming and work on his parole plans. Sanchez will be eligible for parole in 2023.
Wednesday, Smith was denied parole at California State Prison Solano in Vacaville which was attended by Chief Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Raven. Smith was charged with murder and sentenced to a life term after he collided with another vehicle and killed the driver, Bryan Tenney.
Smith had raped his girlfriend and told her he wanted to kill himself before the crash. He attempted suicide by crossing the center line on South River Road and hitting Tenney’s car. Smith will be eligible for parole again in three years.
Robin Johnson also attended the Thursday parole hearing for 82- year- old Keller. Keller, who is currently in prison at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, was convicted of murder after he shot Joseph Hosner in 1984 and sentenced to 17- years- tolife. In reading their decision, parole commissioners told Keller that he continued to lack insight about his criminal behavior and had not taken part in programming to address this issue. Keller has been denied parole eight times and will be eligible again in 2023.
The Yolo County District Attorney’s Lifer Division was started by District Attorney Jeff Reisig in 2007. Individuals that are sentenced for life with the possibility of parole, have a right to parole hearings to determine when they are suitable for release The Lifer Division supports the victims at these hearings. Attorneys also help make sure that prison inmates who are still dangerous are not released.