Governor Jerry Brown opened the door for the potential parole of a Santa Barbara County man convicted of the brutal slaying of a gas station clerk in 1986.
Todd Hess of Carpinteria shot Scott James in the back of the head as the victim was taking money out of a cash register to give to the robber.
The 20 year man was tried and convicted of the Ventura murder, and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Governor Brown commuted the now 53 year old man’s sentence, making him eligible for parole starting in 2019. The Governor noted that Hess earned his GED and took college classes behind bars, and prison officials say he’s been an asset to work programs.
But, Ventura County prosecutors are upset with the decision, saying Hess never expressed remorse for the killing, even bragging about it to fellow inmates.
