The Board of Parole Hearings granted two parole requests and denied another
(Woodland, CA) – February 21, 2023 – During the week of February 13, 2023, three parole lifer hearings took place in prisons across California on individuals sentenced to life or lengthy prison sentences out of Yolo County.
On February14, 2023, 36-year-old Russell Buchanan had his first parole suitability hearing. On January 11 and 12, 2009, Mr. Buchanan committed two gang related violent crimes. He was living in Fairfield, CA at the time. One crime involved shooting a female victim in the leg in Solano County and another, which occurred in Davis, involved a robbery at gunpoint. Mr. Buchanan was convicted of crimes in both Yolo and Solano counties and sentenced to life in state prison. Mr. Buchanan is an inmate at California Correctional Institute in Tehachapi, CA. At the conclusion of the hearing the Board of Parole Hearing commissioners commented on the youthful offender criteria and found that they were applicable to Mr. Buchanan as he was 21 years old when he committed the crimes. Based on Mr. Buchanan’s risk assessment, his programming in prison, and the information presented at the hearing, the commissioners found that he did not pose an unreasonable risk of violence in the community and that he should be paroled. The commissioners recommended specific terms that he live in transitional housing for a period of at least six months, that he not use alcohol or marijuana, and that he not be in bars, liquor stores or locations where alcohol and marijuana are sold. The Yolo County District Attorned pointed out concerns but did not oppose the parole grant.
On February 15, 2023, 39-year-old Christopher Bryson had his initial parole suitability hearing. Mr. Bryson is an inmate at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, CA. In the fall of 2007, Mr. Bryson committed numerous 1st degree burglaries of inhabited residences in Davis, where he was living at the time. A Yolo County jury convicted Mr. Bryson of “entering an inhabited dwelling with intent to commit rape” in addition to other serious crimes. He was sentenced to life in state prison. The parole hearing took place before Commissioner John Garcia and Deputy Commissioner, Angelique Scott. The commissioners “gave great weight” to the “Youthful Offender Factors” because Mr. Bryson was 24 years old when he committed the crimes. The commissioners found Mr. Bryson suitable for parole, indicating he no longer posed an unreasonable risk to public safety. The board indicated Mr. Bryson had completed substantial programming, including all of the programs they would have asked him to complete if they did not grant parole. The Yolo Count District Attorney did not oppose the parole grant.
On February 17, 2023, 33-year-old Antonio Mason Delgado had his first parole suitability hearing. He is serving a sentence of 23 years and 4 months for attempted murder, robbery, and gang charges. He was living in West Sacramento at the time of the crime. Mr. Delgado was evaluated for suitability pursuant to youthful offender release. Mr. Delgado is currently an inmate at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, CA. Commissioner John Garcia and Deputy Commissioner Angelique Scott conducted the hearing. Mr. Delgado and Michael Romero, both gang members from Sacramento, viciously attacked and robbed a man on January 21, 2009, in West Sacramento. The victim suffered permanent brain injuries as a result of the attack. In finding Delgado unsuitable for release, the commissioners stated they were troubled by Mr. Delgado’s continuing minimization of his own direct role in the violent attack. They also emphasized his May 2022, alcohol violation while in prison. They denied his release for three years and recommended that he attend denial management programs. His release date is set for 2025. The Yolo County District Attorney opposed his release.
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