BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Against the request of the Kern County District Attorney’s Office, parole was granted to an 84-year-old man who was convicted of murder in 2005 and sentenced to 40 years to life in prison.
Medel Mendez was granted parole last week under the state’s Elder Parole Laws, which allow inmates at least 50 years old who have served 20 years continuously in prison to be considered for release, prosecutors said.
While state Board of Parole Commissioners focused on Mendez’s age, sobriety, lack of rule violations and mental health disorder in deciding he no longer posed an “unreasonable risk,” prosecutors asked he be denied release over concerns he’ll struggle to manage his mental health disorder once back in society…