In this week’s DA News Update, DA Summer Stephan alerts victims of the Santana High School shooting about the upcoming parole hearing scheduled for the shooter. She also talks about the importance of victims’ rights, including their right to participate in parole hearings.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that in line with her office’s duties to ensure transparency and inform victims under Marsy’s law, that victims of the Santana High School shooting are allowed to attend an upcoming parole hearing for the gunman, Charles “Andy” Williams. Williams opened fire at the school in Santee, California in March 2001 with a revolver, killing two students and wounding 13 others. The DA’s Office will be representing the People at the hearing.
“Having victim voices at hearings like this are an extremely important part of the process,” said DA Stephan. “This particular crime has hundreds of victims associated with it and it’s important to us that victims are aware of their rights under the law to participate in the parole hearing if they wish to do so.”
Williams was sentenced to 50 years-to-life in prison in June 2002. His parole hearing comes exactly 23 years since the mass shooting. His chance at parole is due to a change in state law that altered sentencing guidelines for juveniles who were tried as adults. In Williams’ case, the Youthful Parole law requires that any juvenile who was charged as an adult and received a life sentence has a chance at parole no later than 25 years into their sentence. Williams was 15 when he committed the crime.
Williams’ hearing before the Board of Parole Hearings is scheduled for September 10 at 8:30 a.m.and will be held via video conference. Victims who are interested in attending the hearing must contact the Parole Board by August 26.
Victims, victims’ next of kin, family members, support persons, or designated representatives may appear and participate in the hearing by videoconference or telephone. Participation includes an option to speak at the hearing. If you would like to attend the parole hearing, you may notify the Office of Victim & Survivor Rights & Services by e-mail at victimservices@cdcr.ca.gov or by telephone at 1-877-256-6877. When notifying them of your intent to attend a hearing, please provide them with the manner by which you will participate (by videoconference or by telephone).
For more information on how to be included at the hearing, victims may contact the District Attorney’s Lifer Hearing Unit at 619-531-4115 or at SanDiegoDA@sdcda.org.
More information about Youth Offender Parole Hearings can be found here.