Parole denied for man who committed 2007 robbery and sex crime

A 42-year-old inmate will have to wait until 2025 before he even gets close to a potentially friendly ear regarding his request for release from a California prison.

After a hearing Thursday, a state Parole Board denied Eric Parrish's release from custody for a robbery and sex assault that occurred in Vacaville more than 15 years ago, Solano County District Attorney Krishna Abrams said in a press release.

In his initial parole hearing, Parrish, who is currently serving a 20-yearsto-life sentence for robbery and forcible oral copulation with a weapon, heard arguments opposing his release from Abrams, the victim, and the victim's mother.

Abrams, in the prepared statement, said that on Jan. 20, 2007, an 18-year-old girl working and going to school “had her life turned upside down” during the violent encounter with Parrish.

During the early morning hours of that day, Parrish and co-perpetrator Richard Burnett came into her place of employment with firearms (later determined to be pellet guns), jumped over the counter, demanded money, threatened her, stripped her of her clothing and forced her to engage in sex acts while holding her at gunpoint.

“This was one of the most disturbing cases I have ever handled in my entire career,” said Abrams, who has prosecuted multiple major violent felony cases during her long legal career.

She assailed Parrish's “horrific” crimes but lauded the victim who “courageously participated” in the parole hearing, expressing how these crimes have had a lasting impact on her life.

“I will always remember this as the worst day of my life,” the victim told parole board members. “The inmate has affected my life in countless ways. There isn't a day that goes by that I am not scared for my life. The fear I live with since that day has caused me to look over my shoulder whenever I leave my home, be scared someone will break through any door when I am alone, sleepless nights of night terrors that haunt me, and my self worth that is lost forever.”

After hearing the arguments against release, Parole Board members denied Parrish's request for parole for three years, finding he currently poses “an unreasonable risk to the community” should he be freed from prison, Abrams added in the statement.