LAKEPORT — A judge Wednesday denied the compassionate release request of prisoner Carl Hampton Wade, who was convicted of first-degree murder for a 1986 shooting in Upper Lake.
“In this court”s opinion, Mr. Wade is exactly where he belongs,” Lake County Superior Court Judge Andrew S. Blum said.
Wade, 65, has spent more than 22 years in prison, serving a combined 32 years to life for convictions in Lake County and Colorado. He is currently housed at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville.
The state”s Board of Parole Hearings recently determined Wade satisfied the criteria for possible early release because doctors have found him to be terminally ill with six months or less to live.
The board referred the matter to the Lake County court in late October, and an hour-long hearing occurred Wednesday morning at the Lake County Courthouse.
Chief deputy district attorney Richard Hinchcliff called two witnesses, both younger sisters of John Karns, the man Wade reportedly shot in the stomach and then again in the head several minutes later on June 6, 1986.
Karns” mother also attended the hearing but did not testify.
Both sisters described loss of security and emotional anguish because of their brother”s murder.
Karns and Wade were reportedly friends and had been drinking together at an Upper Lake bar the night of the shooting. According to witnesses, Wade had been antagonizing Karns, leading to Karns punching Wade at one point.
The men later returned to Wade”s house, where the shooting occurred. Wade reportedly hid Karns” body, which authorities didn”t discover for nearly two weeks. Karns was 30 years old.
Wade fled the area, traveled to other states and apparently shot a man in the face in Aurora, Colo. He was arrested in September 1988, pleaded guilty to first-degree assault in Colorado and received a 16-year prison term.
A jury trial followed in Lake County and Wade was convicted in 1989 of first-degree murder and use of a firearm. He was sentenced to another 16 years to life in prison for Karns” death.
Karns” sisters, who both still live in the county, asked Blum to keep Wade locked up.
“I”m afraid that with modern technology that he”s going to be OK and he knows where we live,” Cindy Karns said.
The court received information indicating doctors predict Wade is near death because of incurable heart and lung diseases. The inmate asked to be released to live with his sister in Chico.
Wade”s appointed public defender, Komnith Moth, argued for the compassionate release, saying the prisoner would present no danger to the public and doctors clearly believe there”s “absolutely no chance of recovery.”
Wade relies heavily on a wheelchair and cannot walk more than a few steps without losing his breath, Moth said.
Hinchcliff asked the court not to let an “extremely violent individual” out of prison early. “He does not deserve any compassion at all,” Hinchcliff said.
While rendering his decision, Blum called into question the amount of analysis completed by the Parole board.
The judge said he was “not persuaded” by the information presented on the inmate”s medical condition.
“He could still hold a gun and pull a trigger for all I know,” Blum said.
Wade”s sister also sent a letter to the court six months ago, saying her brother had six months left to live at that time, according to Blum.
The judge added that he wasn”t convinced Wade would pose no public safety risk.
Blum said the court received no information about whether alcohol or firearms would be available at the Chico residence, whether Wade had friends out of custody or whether he is psychologically the same person who committed the “absolutely senseless” crimes.
“I don”t know any of that,” the judge said before denying the request.
Hinchcliff said Wade could petition for medical parole in the future if his condition worsens to require 24-hour assistance. He wouldn”t be eligible for parole under normal circumstances until 2019.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
