| For Immediate Release
March 21, 2013 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
|
OCDA TO OPPOSE PAROLE OF INMATE CONVICTED OF SHOOTING FRIEND MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE BACK WITH FIREARM AND SHOTGUN
SANTA ANA – Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) Tony Rackauckas is opposing the parole of an inmate for shooting his friend multiple times in the back with a firearm and shotgun in 1995. Karl Walter Princic, 56, is currently being held at the California Correctional Institution, Tehachapi. On Sept. 30, 1996, Princic was convicted of one felony count of attempted murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a firearm. He was sentenced to seven years to life in state prison with an additional four years for the sentencing enhancement. He has since had two parole hearings and denied parole both times. The case was originally prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Susan Laird. He is scheduled for a parole hearing today, Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. at the prison before the Board of Parole Hearings, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations (Board).
Senior Deputy District Attorney Jim Mendelson will appear at the hearing to oppose Princic’s parole.
Attempted Murder of Jesse Brooks
At the time of the crime, then 39-year-old Princic had been friends with the victim, Jesse Brooks, for approximately one year. Brooks had been living in Princic’s home while trying to find a new place to live. During this time, Princic became paranoid, due to his use of methamphetamines, and falsely believed that Brooks had killed Princic’s girlfriend and then was going to kill him.
On Aug. 23, 1995, Princic and Brooks had went out and, when they arrived back at the inmate’s home, Princic pulled out a firearm from his waistband and shot Brooks three times. Princic fled the scene and was found by the La Habra Police Department in an alley nearby with the firearm and a shotgun.
The victim was taken to a nearby hospital and released the same day.
Lack of Remorse and a Danger to Society
In his most recent parole hearing in 2009, the Board determined that Princic was unable to provide an explanation for the attempted murder. Princic still continues to change his story regarding the events that occurred on the night of the shooting. Princic originally blamed drugs for causing him to commit the shooting, but more recently claimed that he was being targeted by a group of individuals, including his girlfriend and the victim. Due to his lack of remorse and insight into the crime he committed, he poses an unreasonable risk of danger to society, and therefore, should not be released.