Judge agrees with governor: No parole for Manson follower

A state board in April had declared Leslie Van Houten, who killed a Calif. couple over 40 years ago, eligible for parole after years of good prison behavior

October 15, 2016 12:11 PM

In this April 14, 2016 file photo, former Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten confers with her attorney Rich Pfeiffer, not shown, during a break from her hearing before the California Board of Parole Hearings at the California Institution for Women in Chino, Calif.

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — A judge has upheld Gov. Jerry Brown’s decision to keep Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten in prison.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge William Ryan on Thursday refused a request from Van Houten’s lawyer to overturn Brown’s decision.

A state board in April had declared Van Houten, who killed a California couple more than 40 years ago, eligible for parole after years of good prison behavior.

In July, Brown overturned the board.

The Los Angeles Times reports the judge said in his Thursday ruling that there is still evidence Van Houten is a threat to society, and that he respects the governor’s broad discretion in these matters.

Van Houten, now 67, is serving a life sentence for the killings of Leno and Rosemary La Bianca.

Probation and Parole