Panel recommends parole for Manson family member
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A former Charles Manson follower imprisoned for 40 years in a double murder engineered by Manson won a recommendation of parole Thursday in his 27th appearance before a parole board panel.
Bruce Davis, convicted with Manson and another man in the killings of a musician and a stuntman, was not involved in the infamous Sharon Tate murders in 1969.
The answer to his plea for freedom came on the eve of his 70th birthday. He was a young man of 30 when he was sentenced to life in prison in 1972 in a case that was a postscript to Manson's notorious reign as leader of the murderous communal cult known as the Manson family.
"While your behavior was atrocious, your crimes did occur 43 years ago," parole board member Jeff Ferguson told Davis, according to the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
Davis long maintained he was a bystander in the killings of the two men, but in recent years he has acknowledged his shared responsibility, and said Thursday he has "made remarkable progress in coming to terms with what I did."
"I want to try to make up for some of the pain and destruction I've caused," Davis said, according to the Tribune.
The hearing was held at the California Men's Colony at San Luis Obispo, where Davis is imprisoned.
His release was opposed by a Los Angeles prosecutor and by a former Manson family member, Barbara Hoyt, as well as Sharon Tate's sister, Debra Tate, who attended the hearing.
The recommendation is not the last hurdle in Davis' quest for freedom. The parole grant is subject to a 120-day review period by the entire parole board. If it is upheld, Gov. Jerry Brown then has 30 days to review the decision.
Los Angeles County district attorney's spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said: "We certainly disagree with the board's decision. We will evaluate how we plan to proceed as the matter goes to Gov. Brown."
She noted that District Attorney Steve Cooley helped persuade then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to stop Davis' release on his prior parole date in 2010.
A parole board determined then that Davis was ready for release, saying he had no recent disciplinary problems and had completed education and self-help programs.
However, Schwarzenegger reversed the decision, citing the heinous nature of the crimes and saying Davis was still a danger.
Brown's spokesman Gil Duran declined comment after Thursday's hearing, saying the issue had not yet reached the governor's desk.
Davis has been in prison since being convicted with Manson and another follower, Steve Grogan, in the murders of musician Gary Hinman and stuntman Donald "Shorty" Shea.
"I'm pleased and relieved and I hope Bruce's ordeal will be over," said attorney Michael Beckman, who has been fighting for years for the release of Davis.
He said an emotional Davis spoke to the panel at length and took responsibility for his role in the killings. Davis also said he tried to do good for other inmates and would continue ministering for troubled souls on the outside, the lawyer said.
If eventually freed, Davis will go to transitional housing associated with religious groups in Los Angeles County.
Davis became a born-again Christian in prison and ministered to other inmates, married a woman he met through the prison ministry, and has a grown daughter. The couple recently divorced.
Beckman said Davis also earned a master's degree and a doctorate in philosophy of religion.
Beckman said his client is totally rehabilitated and meets state requirements for parole. Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Patrick Sequeira opposed his release.
Few followers of the infamous Manson cult have been released from prison. Grogan was freed in 1985 after he led police to Shea's buried body.
Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme was released from federal prison in 2009 after serving time for the attempted assassination of President Gerald Ford.
Manson and two of his followers, Leslie Van Houten and Patricia Krenwinkel, remain in prison for life in the Tate killings. Their co-defendant, Susan Atkins, died of cancer behind bars in 2009. Another of the Tate killers, Charles "Tex" Watson, remains in prison.
___
Associated Press writer Don Thompson in Sacramento contributed to this report.
Bruce Davis, convicted with Manson and another man in the killings of a musician and a stuntman, was not involved in the infamous Sharon Tate murders in 1969.
The answer to his plea for freedom came on the eve of his 70th birthday. He was a young man of 30 when he was sentenced to life in prison in 1972 in a case that was a postscript to Manson's notorious reign as leader of the murderous communal cult known as the Manson family.
"While your behavior was atrocious, your crimes did occur 43 years ago," parole board member Jeff Ferguson told Davis, according to the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
Davis long maintained he was a bystander in the killings of the two men, but in recent years he has acknowledged his shared responsibility, and said Thursday he has "made remarkable progress in coming to terms with what I did."
"I want to try to make up for some of the pain and destruction I've caused," Davis said, according to the Tribune.
The hearing was held at the California Men's Colony at San Luis Obispo, where Davis is imprisoned.
His release was opposed by a Los Angeles prosecutor and by a former Manson family member, Barbara Hoyt, as well as Sharon Tate's sister, Debra Tate, who attended the hearing.
The recommendation is not the last hurdle in Davis' quest for freedom. The parole grant is subject to a 120-day review period by the entire parole board. If it is upheld, Gov. Jerry Brown then has 30 days to review the decision.
Los Angeles County district attorney's spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said: "We certainly disagree with the board's decision. We will evaluate how we plan to proceed as the matter goes to Gov. Brown."
She noted that District Attorney Steve Cooley helped persuade then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to stop Davis' release on his prior parole date in 2010.
A parole board determined then that Davis was ready for release, saying he had no recent disciplinary problems and had completed education and self-help programs.
However, Schwarzenegger reversed the decision, citing the heinous nature of the crimes and saying Davis was still a danger.
Brown's spokesman Gil Duran declined comment after Thursday's hearing, saying the issue had not yet reached the governor's desk.
Davis has been in prison since being convicted with Manson and another follower, Steve Grogan, in the murders of musician Gary Hinman and stuntman Donald "Shorty" Shea.
"I'm pleased and relieved and I hope Bruce's ordeal will be over," said attorney Michael Beckman, who has been fighting for years for the release of Davis.
He said an emotional Davis spoke to the panel at length and took responsibility for his role in the killings. Davis also said he tried to do good for other inmates and would continue ministering for troubled souls on the outside, the lawyer said.
If eventually freed, Davis will go to transitional housing associated with religious groups in Los Angeles County.
Davis became a born-again Christian in prison and ministered to other inmates, married a woman he met through the prison ministry, and has a grown daughter. The couple recently divorced.
Beckman said Davis also earned a master's degree and a doctorate in philosophy of religion.
Beckman said his client is totally rehabilitated and meets state requirements for parole. Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Patrick Sequeira opposed his release.
Few followers of the infamous Manson cult have been released from prison. Grogan was freed in 1985 after he led police to Shea's buried body.
Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme was released from federal prison in 2009 after serving time for the attempted assassination of President Gerald Ford.
Manson and two of his followers, Leslie Van Houten and Patricia Krenwinkel, remain in prison for life in the Tate killings. Their co-defendant, Susan Atkins, died of cancer behind bars in 2009. Another of the Tate killers, Charles "Tex" Watson, remains in prison.
___
Associated Press writer Don Thompson in Sacramento contributed to this report.
""While your behavior was atrocious, your crimes did occur 43 years ago," parole board member Jeff Ferguson told Davis..."Â So, Mr. Ferguson, when will his victims be released from their sentence? I mean it was 43Â years ago, I'm sure they're over their deaths by now.
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Jeff Ferguson is a prime example of why people are fed up with the "justice" system in this country. What an utterly contemptible individual.
No release..  These kind of people should never ever be released. They where sentenced to life in prison and it should mean just that!
i see many problems with his incarcaration, and any others in the prison system. --"ministered to other inmates, married a woman he met through the prison ministry, and has a grown daughter." --"Davis also earned a master's degree and a doctorate in philosophy of religion" Prison is supposed to be a place of hardship to pay for your crimes. I dont want my tax paying moneys paying for this man to have the luxuries of a free man. The system is screwwed up. No wonder there are so many in prison.
May he rot in that cell
Disgraceful. Shame on the parole board. Let the families of the victims decide this matter. Hopefully the governor will reverse the decision.
While your behavior was atrocious, your crimes did occur 43 years ago? what difference does the passing of time make?I see we taxpayers have taken good care of him.If they wish to just let him go needs to pay for his care he has received all this time (47 years)Â
What an abhorrent ideation - gifting this man with freedom - when his cruelly killed victims - remain DEAD.Â
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No parole. None. Ever. What does a life sentence mean, California. This man deserves to die behind bars. That would atone to society for the crimes he deliberately and viscously engaged in. Nothing less.Â
He should never be free!
Sure...release him on parole...only...make him live with the parole board members for the 1st 5 years, and if he re-offends again, make the parole board member stand trial right alongside him as an accessory to the crime. I think this should be a condition of ANY parole. If it were, guess how many would be paroled....NONE!