LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – Walter Joseph Lewis, a twice-convicted murderer, was scheduled for parole release under the California Elderly Parole Law, FOX 11 Los Angeles reported. Lewis, currently aged 76, committed his first murder in 1965 at 18 years old, and was sentenced to 13 years in prison. His second murder occurred in 1979 when he killed Robert Chartier by beating him to death with a hammer.
The Chartier family has been advocating for the California Board of Parole Hearings to reconsider Lewis’ release since 2017. In a letter posted to Change.org in 2017, Jason Brock, Chartier’s nephew, shared the details of the brutal murder and his family’s plea for justice.
Under the elderly parole law, any convicted criminal over 50 years old who has spent 20 years in prison is considered for release, as reported by FOX 11. The law, enacted in 2018, has led to the release of hundreds of inmates, including 317 in 2020, 360 in 2021, and 493 in 2022, according to California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation records cited by the outlet.
The prospect of Lewis’ release has left the Chartier family in shock, with one relative, Karla, expressing disbelief at the approval of his release. The family believes that the violent nature of Lewis’ crimes makes his release a significant risk to public safety.
Efforts to reach out to the California Board of Parole Hearings and the District Attorney’s office by Fox News Digital have been made to obtain further information on the case.