The following is a press release issued by the Mendocino County District Attorney:
The man responsible for the brutal 1993 murder at Lake Mendocino of a Redwood Valley Water District employee was approved on April 4th for release from state prison on parole during a contested hearing held before appointed commissioners from the state’s Board of Parole Hearings.
Inmate Troy Harden, now 53 years old, formerly of Willits, was convicted by jury verdict of murder in the first degree by means of a knife and sentenced in March 1994 to 26 years to life for the stabbing death of Larry Stephenson, a husband and father of two who was at that time living in Upper Lake but working in Redwood Valley.
The victim was stabbed multiple times and had his throat cut while he was performing work at the Lake Mendocino water outlet tower.
Troy Harden’s brother, Ron Trevor Harden, and another man, John Jensen, were at the scene and convicted of being accessories to the murder.
In one of Mendocino County’s worst recorded murder-suicides, Ron Harden killed four family members and himself before he could be sentenced for his involvement in Stephenson’s murder and attempted cover-up.
The April 4th parole hearing got off to a really bad start. The obviously confused Board members started the hearing by attempting to prevent the Mendocino County deputy prosecutor from appearing to argue against Harden’s parole.
Because there had been a change of venue to Humboldt County due to pretrial publicity in Mendocino County, the commissioners were of the mistaken belief that the Mendocino County District Attorney had no standing to even appear at the parole hearing (despite having appeared at all prior parole hearings), let alone to argue against Harden’s parole.
Delaying the hearing, it was eventually made clear through official records that the Mendocino County DA – not the Humboldt County DA — was the prosecuting agency that handled the murder trial against Harden in Eureka in front of a Humboldt County jury.
The Board members eventually had to relent and begrudgingly allow the Mendocino County DDA’s appearance and listen to her vigorous arguments against granting Harden parole.
In brief, Mendocino County Deputy District Attorney Jamie Pearl argued that Harden remains unsuitable for parole because, despite the rehabilitative efforts undertaken during his years of incarceration, he still poses an unreasonable risk to public safety, citing the underlying reasons for this factual and legal conclusion.
It is also noted that members of the victim’s family also appeared and argued against parole for Stephenson’s killer, the next of kin also sharing their beliefs that Harden continues to pose a public safety risk outside of a structured prison setting.
However, changes in the law undertaken over time by the Legislature in Sacramento have made Board findings that convicted murderers serving life sentences are now suitable for parole an easier result, if not a probable outcome. Because of his age in 1994, Harden has been classified as a “youthful offender” with special parole rights.
A youth offender is an incarcerated person who was under 26 years of age at the time of the crime for which he or she stands convicted.
The Board members are now required at youthful offender parole hearings to give great weight to factors “specific” to “youthful offenders.”
For example, the Board is required to give great weight to the non-specific general perceptions of diminished culpability of juveniles as compared to non-specific general perceptions of the culpability of adults, the “hallmark features of youth,” and any subsequent “growth and increased maturity” of a “youthful offender” inmate.
Less weight, if any, is afforded the specifics of the crime and the forever impacts on the victim’s family, friends, and co-workers.
Given the Board’s finding that Harden is now suitable and should be granted parole, he will be eligible for release immediately after the decision granting him parole is deemed “final” (which takes about five months).
The Board decision granting parole is subject to the Board’s decision review process and the Governor’s separate review process.
For those wishing to express their agreement or disagreement with the Board’s parole suitability decision regarding Troy Harden, letters may be sent to:
Board of Parole Hearings
Post Office Box 4036
Sacramento, CA 95812-4036
For those wishing to further express their agreement or disagreement to the final decision-maker regarding Troy Harden’s parole suitability and release, respectful letters may be sent to:
Governor Gavin Newsom
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814
For those interested in communicating with Governor Newsom via email on the Board’s Troy Harden parole decision, access to the Governor’s email portal is available at https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/ .
Once at the portal page, for the topic use “Parole Issues/Concerns” and click on “Leave a comment.” When you click and navigate to the second page, you will be asked to check whether you are “pro” or “con” on the parole issue/concern, before being able to type your comments.
Dear Governor Newsom,
This conversation has to do with Troy Harden , parole. Governor Newsom I met you many years ago at a CUE Conference in San Jose. You were amazing, you spent .5 an hour with my students learning IMovie. They worked on a wrestling video. You thought about our children every step of the way. You were encouraging and a role model to be admired, they were so proud of your encouragement. I am not a judge or jury but a jury did give him life. This decision effects so many areas of our life. You are telling children it is okay to commit a crime. What our jury and judges decisions make, doesn’t count you will still get out of prison. I am 64 a retiring teacher and had a student tell me I can steel up to 500. in stuff and they can’t do anything, that tilted me. I love California dreamed since the 60’s I could come home. My husband and I made a life for ourselves in a beautiful spot. He passed 3 years ago, since then I have seen so many negative inappropriate problems in California. This state has always been the state of innovation and safety. I do not feel safe. Please let our judge and jury’s decisions hold unless DNA or evidence proves different. These decisions in life touch our lives. When making decisions we have to always look at the children that will be guiding our planets future. They are going to be making choices for us as we grow old.
Thank you for giving me the chance to speak my opinion.
Thank you for listening.
Mrs. Lyons
It’s actually $900
I feel terrible for Mr. Stephenson’s family🙏🏻 There is something horribly wrong with our justice system!! When a violent criminal, convicted of a very violent killing, sentenced 26 years to life in prison, is allowed to be paroled. I remember when that murder happened, and how scared I was to go out to the lake. Now the murderer will walk amongst us. This is wrong on so many levels, and everyone knows it. God help us…
Get used to it prison. Reform. As it’s labeled. Is freeing multitudes of dangerous people into society. A wide open border is allowing the worst type in to America unchecked. We are sitting ducks. Our government is using fear to steal money. And gain control. The pattern is. Cause a chaotic situation by not doing their sworn duty. Then when public is scared. Pass a bunch of laws that take freedom away and use our money against us. Repeat
The people must step up to make change. If you don’t want heavy crimes then push the Judges to give the heavy crimes of conviction a LWOP (Life Without Parole) sentence…Then they are not eligible for PAROLE…..