LAKE COUNTY — A state appellate court last week granted the early compassionate release request of a prisoner convicted of first-degree murder for a 1986 shooting in Upper Lake.
In an unpublished decision May 17, the state”s First District Court of Appeal, Division Four, reversed the November ruling by Lake County Superior Court Judge Andrew S. Blum to deny the request made by Carl Hampton Wade.
The California Attorney General”s Office confirmed Thursday it would not appeal the decision.
Wade, 66, reportedly relies heavily on a wheelchair and was diagnosed last year as having a terminal illness with six months or less to live.
The appellate court stated Blum”s conclusion that Wade did not meet the criteria for compassionate release “was not supported by substantial evidence, and was erroneous.”
Richard Hinchcliff, chief deputy district attorney for Lake County, called the appellate court ruling an “extremely poor decision” that was made to “save the state some money.”
Hinchcliff argued against Wade”s release at the hearing in Lake County last fall.
In April 1989, Wade was convicted of the shooting death of John Karns nearly three years earlier.
After the 1986 shooting, Wade fled Lake County and eventually ended up in Colorado, where was convicted of first-degree assault for shooting another man.
Wade reportedly plans to live with his sister in Chico.
