BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A man who was convicted as a teenager of killing his mother in 2001 has been denied a chance for early release.
Judge Michael Bush denied Parker Chamberlin request for re-sentencing. According to the District Attorney's office, Chamberlin was able to file an appeal for a resentencing that would give him early release because of an amendment to an existing code section that allows the CDCR to recommend someone for early release based solely on performance in prison.
In July of 2001, then 15-year-old Chamberlin stabbed his mother, Tori Knapp to death in their Bakersfield home. Chamberlin says at the time his mother refused to give him an allowance as well as made cuts to their overall finances.
Chamberlin was tried as an adult and sentenced to 26 years to life in prison for first-degree murder. Nearly two decades later, 33-year-old Chamberlin requested a new sentence after state officials recommended him for re-sentencing based on good behavior.
During the hearing on March 13, Judge Michael Bush referenced three letters written to the judge in the 2002 case by Knapp's mother, father and best friend.
In her letter, Knapp's mother said, "There is not a doubt in my mind that over the next 26 years, Parker will perform as a model prisoner just as he performed as a model child for the first 14 years of his life, deceiving his friends and family down the road to ultimate betrayal. It is my greatest concern that in 26 years, a parole board will be deceived in the same way and feel compelled to release him onto an unsuspecting public."
"I doubt these individuals wrote these comments with this particular hearing in mind, but they knew him well and I believe they predicted the future," Judge Bush said regarding the letters.
Judge Bush ended the hearing by saying, "There's no doubt in my mind that the defendant will probably someday be released but today is not that day. The petition is denied. We are in recess."
