VACAVILLE — On Tuesday the Board of Parole Hearings denied parole for convicted murderer Kenneth Warren Perkins, 67.
Richard Hinchcliff, Chief Deputy District Attorney for the Lake County District Attorney”s Office, attended the lifer hearing at California State Prison Solano in Vacaville, to argue against Perkins” release.
Perkins was found guilty at trial by a jury, of the second-degree murder of Edward Maher, and sentenced to 17 years to life on April 30, 1990. He was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Robert L. Crone Jr. Perkins was originally prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Richard C. Martin, who is now one of Lake County”s Superior Court judges. Perkins” minimum eligible parole date was Dec. 31, 2000.
According to investigation reports, the victim, who was 40 at the time, was temporarily living in a shack in the woods near the intersection of Golf Road and Highway 175 on Cobb.
One of Maher”s sons and some friends were visiting him on Oct. 18, 1989 when Perkins showed up with a shotgun. After they left at about 7 p.m., as they were heading out of the woods toward home, they heard a gunshot.
The next morning Perkins called the Sheriff”s Department and reported he had accidentally shot Maher after Maher attacked him and grabbed the gun, causing the gun to accidentally discharge.
However, investigators determined from evidence at the scene that Perkins had shot Maher in the neck from a distance of about six-feet while Maher was sitting down tying or untying his boots. Maher left behind a wife and two sons. According to Maher”s family, Perkins had recently worked for Maher doing construction and Perkins had recently been fired by Maher for some misconduct and Perkins was angry at Maher for firing him.
According to reports, Perkins had a serious alcohol problem for most of his life and was drinking at the time of the shooting. Perkins had several criminal convictions for burglary, theft, battery and DUI prior to the shooting.
Prison records indicate that Perkins has remained disciplinary-free while in prison, but has failed to take classes or get professional help to address personal issues that led to the shooting and his participation in necessary substance abuse classes was described as “very sporadic.”
Perkins has also continued to claim the shooting was accidental.
At the two-and-a-half hour hearing on Feb. 7, Hinchcliff asked the Board of Prison Hearings to deny Perkins” parole on the grounds that he still presented an unreasonable risk of danger to the public if released and failed to exhibit remorse or accept responsibility for his conduct. Maher”s widow and one of his sons also attended the hearing and asked the parole commissioners to deny parole.
The Board of Parole Hearings denied parole, agreeing that Perkins still presents an unreasonable risk to the public if released. The denial was for five years.
Perkins” next parole hearing is scheduled to be held in 2016.
