| For Immediate Release May 31, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
PAROLE DENIED FOR GANG MEMBER CONVICTED OF 1981 STABBING-MURDER OF 17-YEAR-OLD RIVAL
*Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas prosecuted the case in 1983
SANTA ANA – The Board of Parole Hearings (Board), California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations, denied the parole today of a gang member convicted of the stabbing-murder of a rival at a house party. District Attorney Rackauckas was the original prosecutor who conducted the trial in 1983. Edward Rubio Saragosa, 52, is currently being held at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego. Saragosa was convicted by a jury May 24, 1983, of second degree murder and sentenced to 16 years to life in state prison. Saragosa will be eligible for parole at his next parole hearing in 2016. Before denying the inmate’s parole, the Board took into consideration the facts of the case, Saragosa’s prison record, his failure to take responsibility for the murder of a teenager, and lack of suitable parole plans.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Jim Mendelson appeared at the hearing to defend public safety and advocate for justice. Inmate Saragosa was not present to participate in his parole hearing.
Facts of the Case
At approximately 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 18, 1981, then-22-year-old Saragosa attended a house party with the intent to initiate a fight with rival gang members. After taking alcohol and drugs, Saragosa became angry after learning rivals had come to a house party in his Santa Ana neighborhood. Saragosa entered the home and engaged in an attack, stabbing and murdering 17-year-old victim Jesus Martinez Galvez. Saragosa fled the scene. Witnesses called 911. Upon further investigation by Santa Ana Police Department, Saragosa was linked to the crime and arrested March 3, 1981.
Inmates Inability to Rehabilitate and Continued Threat to Public Safety
While incarcerated, Saragosa has been cited for several serious prison violations including the inmate’s numerous attempts to manufacture, consume, and sell alcohol. Three months before his last parole hearing, Saragosa was found in possession of Pruno, a homemade alcohol that comes from fermented fruit. As cited in the People’s parole opposition letter, the inmate’s most recent psychological assessment in 2010 found significant evidence to diagnose Saragosa with Antisocial Personality Disorder, which “could remain with the inmate until he is able to demonstrate continued prosocial and unimpaired functioning for a protracted period of time without being under a supervised custodial living arrangement.” Saragosa refuses to take responsibility and continues to deny being the stabber. The inmate minimized his role by stating that he only held the 17-year-old victim down while his brother stabbed him. Saragosa’s failure to accept responsibility for murdering a teenager, continued disobedient behavior and disregard for prison rules, and a negative psychological assessment demonstrated that he poses an unreasonable risk of violence to society and should not be released.
###