Calif. Gov. Jerry Brown Considering Parole For Manson Follower Bruce Davis

Jerry Brown, the governor of California, has 30 days to decide whether to parole Charles Manson follower Bruce Davis, who has been behind bars for 40 years for murder. Davis is currently incarcerated at the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo. The parole board made its initial decision in October, which was followed by a 120-day review period.

According to CNN, “Brown’s office received a formal recommendation from the state board parole Friday to release Bruce Davis, 70, who would be the first Manson ‘family’ member to secure freedom solely for good behavior.”

Then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger blocked Davis’ release in 2010 after a similar parole board recommendation.

Davis is serving a life sentence for a crime unrelated to the Sharon Tate-LaBianca murders, the Los Angles Times reports:

“Davis did not participate in the 1969 Manson family murders of actress Sharon Tate and six others.

“He was convicted in the slayings of Gary Hinman, an aspiring musician, and Donald ‘Shorty’ Shea, a stuntman and a ranch hand at the Chatsworth ranch where Manson and his followers lived.”

Based on his track record, the Sacramento Bee suggests that it’s likely that Brown will allow Davis to go free:

“Brown let stand 331 of 405 — roughly 82 percent — of decisions to parole convicted killers by the state Board of Parole Hearings last year, according to an annual report to the Legislature released Tuesday.

“By comparison, Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger permitted the release of only about 27 percent of paroled killers, while Democratic Gov. Gray Davis’ numbers were even lower — about 2 percent.”

[Image credit: Amadscientist]