Parole board revokes several paroles, denies others and orders treatment for one inmate

The Committee on Parole convened Aug. 27, 2024, at Department of Corrections headquarters in Baton Rouge and by remote connection with parish jails to hear a full docket of parole revocation and parole-review cases.

Chair Carolyn Stapleton presided over the panel, which included board members Steve Prater and Chuck Tillis. The board heard in-person and remote testimony from parolees, corrections staff, probation and parole agents and family members before moving into deliberations on several matters. The panel’s decisions included multiple revocations, several denials of parole and one conditional non-revocation tied to program completion.

Why it matters: The board’s rulings immediately affect where each person will serve time going forward and which individuals will be required to complete treatment or remain incarcerated. Several decisions cited unpaid supervision fees, failures to report to supervising officers, pending criminal charges or substantive criminal histories.

Key decisions (votes at a glance)

- Bobby Wilcher Jr. — Revoked. The board found multiple failures to submit monthly reports dating to Dec. 2022, an unapproved move in Jan. 2024, a domestic-abuse battery charge (June 30, 2022) and arrears on supervision fees ($4,718). Steve Prater voted to revoke; Chuck Tillis dissented; Chair Stapleton voted to revoke.

- Bendy (Bendy) Jackson — Revoked. Jackson disputed some injury descriptions in police reports but the board concluded violations were supported and voted to revoke.

- Maria Morris — Revoked. The board found violation of a protective order and arrears (about $570) after reviewing recorded voicemails and agent reports and voted to revoke.

- Samir Alcosm — Revoked. Alcosm acknowledged a travel permit to Seattle and subsequent arrest/extradition and the panel voted to revoke following questioning about failure to maintain contact with supervising staff.

- Merrill (Merle) Bell — Not revoked, with special condition. Bell, recently reentered after a long incarceration, faced a domestic-violence-related allegation and arrears; after family testimony and deliberation the panel voted not to revoke on the condition he complete a long-term domestic-violence offender program while in custody.

- Charles Benton — Revoked. Benton admitted multiple reporting failures, failure to attend required classes and arrears; the board voted to revoke.

- Dana Murphy — Parole denied. Murphy, whose armed-robbery charge was reduced to first-degree robbery, described rehabilitation progress (GED, college credits and program participation) and had family support; the board denied parole, citing opposition from the district attorney and local law enforcement and the violent nature of the offense.

- Jeffrey Talbert — Parole denied. Talbert pleaded guilty to indecent behavior with a juvenile after plea negotiations; the panel concluded the case warranted more time and denied parole.

- Joshua Perot — Parole denied. Perot, convicted after a shooting incident tied to a suspected drug transaction, admitted to being present with firearms; the board voted to deny parole.

What the board emphasized: Board members repeatedly cited supervision-fee arrears, failure to stay in contact with supervising officers, evidence in police reports (including photos and voicemails) and the seriousness of underlying criminal allegations as central to their votes. Several board members urged parolees to take advantage of treatment programming where available.

Notable quotes from the hearing record included parolee Bobby Wilcher Jr.: “I have a video of the entire incident. I just can't get to it.” In a public statement during the Wilcher hearing, the alleged victim said, “I lied because I was mad,” and asked the board not to punish the parolee for her false statement.

Next steps: For those whose parole was revoked, the board’s decision will be processed by DOC and local detention authorities. For Merrill Bell the board conditioned non-revocation on successful completion of a specified domestic-violence program while incarcerated. Several parolees were directed to coordinate arrears payments and program enrollment with their probation officers. Several denied parole decisions mean the individuals will remain in custody and can be considered for future review according to statutory and administrative schedules.

Methodology: This article is based only on the Committee on Parole transcript from Aug. 27, 2024, read at DOC headquarters and remote parish sites. Quotes and attributions are taken directly from the record.