(The Center Square)—California Board of Parole Hearings ordered the release of convicted child murderer Josue Herrera, who was found to have beaten his girlfriend’s 2-year-old son to death.
While BPH claims Herrera has shown “remorse” and is “no longer” a “risk to public safety,” some officials questioned the decision, noting the gruesome circumstances of the toddler’s murder and the unfairness of giving the murderer a second chance.
BPH, all of whose current members were appointed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, ordered Herrera released over the objections of Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer, whose office convicted Herrera.
Herrera was convicted in 2010 for having beaten a 2-year-old boy to death. The child was beaten so badly he had detached retinas and hemorrhaging in both eyes.
BPH said Herrera was found not to have violated rules in prison, and that he has taken classes in prison to help him “understand his criminal thinking” and work on his drug, alcohol and anger management issues.
However, Zimmer’s office painted a different picture of Herrera and his time in prison, citing Herrera’s own statements in his parole board hearing.
“During the hearing, Herrera made statements that he was often abusive to women, as well as all the children who were around him, including the victim, his own children, and his sister’s children,” wrote Zimmer’s office. “Although he did not have any formal prison reprimands, he violated the rules of the prison daily with minor violations.”
“He was involved in a restitution avoidance scam by putting or receiving funds onto his books for people that owed restitution to victims, in which he received a commission,” continued Zimmer’s office. “Herrera admitted that he understood that it could affect the restitution that was due to the victims of crimes.”
Assemblyman Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale, whose district includes Kern County, slammed the governor’s parole board for its decision, noting the child never got a second chance.
“Only in CA does ‘criminal justice reform’ mean setting free a monster who shattered a toddler’s skull, left him blind, bleeding, and bruised then lied about it 3 times,” said Lackey. “Josue Herrera tortured a 2-year-old to death. The state gave him a second chance. That child never got one.”
