State Declares That The Suspect In Killing a Whittier Police Officer Was Not Released Early From Prison

In contradiction to the earliest statements from the sheriff’s officials as well as the police, the state corrections department declared on Tuesday that the 26 year old felon that is suspected in fatally gunning down a Whittier police officer was not released from state prison early.

According to the statement that was made by California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the prisoner served full sentences and his full prison terms as is required by law. The statement also mentions that Mejia was released from prison on April 19, 2016.

Jail records and court documents also demonstrate that he was being taken into custody several times now for the violation of the terms of his release. Mejia was suspected in fatally gunning down a Whittier Police Officer – Keith Boyer. Boyer along with another law enforcement officer were responding to a car accident in which Mejia was involved. It is said that Mejia allegedly pulled out a weapon and started shooting the officers. This prompted and exchange of fire and all three men were hospitalized with injuries.

The injured officer as well as Mejia himself have managed to survive. However, Boyer’s remains were taken to Rose Hills Memorial Park during the police procession. In addition, it is also said that a couple of hours before shooting at the officers, Mejia killed a man with a gunshot and that person was identified by family members as his very own cousin – the 47 year old Roy Roger Torres.

The investigation is being led by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department homicide lieutenant, John Corina and he repeatedly state that the suspect was released earlier than required. Furthermore, it turns out that according to Corina, the suspect was released early on parole and was out of custody for almost a week now. Together with Sheriff Jim McDonnell, Whittier Police Department Chief Jeff A. Piper outlined the recent ballot-box propositions and state laws that they declared were only increasing the crime rates.

Piper declares that “enough is enough”. “You’re passing these propositions, you’re creating these laws that is raising crime, and it’s not good for our communities and it’s not good for officers. What you have today is an example of that.” McDonnell was of course referring to a country wide movement to “reduce incarceration,” which began with the 2011 prison realignment program. The program was designed to handle the overcrowding of prisons in Assembly Bill 109, and to Propositions 47 and 57.

“In this case, we don’t have enough information on this individual at this point to be able to say exactly which one of these initiatives allowed him to be out back in the population,” McDonnell stated. Nevertheless, the state corrections department states that no Criminal Justice Reforms have influence the release of Mejia. The AB 109 was the only factor that had some impact on the release of Mejia – at least, this is what the state’s statement says. In line with the AB 109, Mejia was released to the Post-Release Community Supervision. This basically implies that the Los Angeles County Probation Department will be responsible for monitoring him and not the state.

The CDCR statement was also mirrored by the Sheriff’s Department new release that was out on Tuesday afternoon. The statement was no longer referring to Mejia as a state parolee. In fact, Mejia was released for the Pelican Bay State Prison in Crescent City and consequently reported to the county a day later, on April 20, 2016. The Sheriff’s Department also stated that Mejia is still hospitalized with a gunshot injury and was booked on Monday “for a flash incarceration (probation hold).”

One way or the other, Mejia was convicted back in 2010 for a second-degree robbery with a street-gang sentencing enhancement. He then received a total sentence of four years in state prison - the CDCR stated. The judge provided Mejia with credit for 302 days served. On January 26, 2014 he was paroled, but later on, almost six months later, he returned to the prison for grand theft auto as well as vehicle theft.

The Los Angeles Criminal Defense Specialists