John Burkett, DOC number 400507, appeared before the Louisiana Committee on Parole on July 9, 2025, and the panel denied his parole application after citing strong family opposition and the severity of his conviction.

Burkett, serving a 70-year sentence for aggravated crimes related to sex offenses, told the panel he had completed classes including substance-abuse and anger-management and obtained degrees in Christian ministry while incarcerated. He said he worked as an inmate minister and on work crews and intended to move to Illinois to live with his mother if released.

Parole staff described Burkett as a medium-custody offender who had completed some programming and had one disciplinary report during his incarceration. Panel members weighed Burkett’s educational accomplishments against the seriousness of the underlying offense and family opposition. One panel member explicitly cited “strong family opposition” and the seriousness of the crime in voting to deny.

The chair told Burkett a unanimous decision was required; the panel recorded votes to deny parole. The denial will be entered into Burkett’s parole record and affects his immediate release prospects under state parole procedures.