Convicted juvenile murderer set free

Law: juvenile murder convict held til 23

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Posted: 10/10/2012
Last Updated: 226 days ago

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Travale Chance Carlson was released from Lerdo Jail for murder charges received nearly nine years ago on Tuesday, Oct. 9.

Carlson was 13-years-old when he took part in the killing of a woman in her downtown Bakersfield apartment. Reports said that the juvenile stabbed and suffocated the woman with a plastic bag.

Due to charges in laws regarding juvenile offenders, a juvenile murder convict can only be held until they are 23-years-old.

Officials at the time of the June 2003 killing said Carlson murdered Yolanda Ann Espinoza as a gang initiation.

After the murder, Carlson told his 14-year-old girlfriend details of the killing on the morning of June 14.

On June 20, the girlfriend confessed to police about Carlson's confession to her, reports said.

Officers arrested Carlson and codefendant Lonny Johnson, who both initially denied involvement in the murder and accused the each other of killing Espinoza. Neither knew the victim.

Johnson was later convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Carlson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

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