Governor OKs Woman’s Parole; Davis Had Denied It

Jerilyn Becker, hailed as a model inmate while serving 23 years of her life sentence for murder on a Sausalito houseboat, saw her parole upheld this week by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and will soon be released.

Schwarzenegger also reversed decisions by the Board of Prison Terms to release five inmates serving life sentences for murder.

Becker, 52, is the fifth inmate convicted of murder whose release has been effectively approved since Schwarzenegger took office last month. Her parole previously had been denied by former Gov. Gray Davis.

“It is Gov. Schwarzenegger’s policy to let the Board of Prison Terms do its job,” said spokeswoman Ashley Snee. “Only when he believes a clear error has been made does he intend to review the granting or denial of parole.”

Becker’s release is the latest indicator that the governor is taking a less rigid stance than his predecessor. During his five years in office, Davis granted parole to eight of 294 murderers recommended for release by the parole board.

According to board spokesman Bill Sessa, Schwarzenegger has reviewed 18 decisions so far. The governor’s office has allowed five releases, rejected 11 others and sent one back to the board for another review. Schwarzenegger also agreed to move up the release date for one woman whose release was approved by Davis.

“When you read through the reversals ... since the change of administration, in the last 18, you can see in many cases they were looking at the same set of facts, but coming to a slightly different judgment,” Sessa said.

Becker had been denied parole the first four times she appeared before hearing panels. In 2002, a panel approved her release, but Davis reversed the decision. In July, a panel again approved her release.

“We think she’s a far more mature person than when she committed the crime,” Sessa said. “She has more insight into her responsibility for it, more insight into the role her heroin addiction played in the outcome.”

Becker was convicted of first-degree murder in 1980. She had paid the victim, Rickey Caponio, for drugs on his houseboat and then returned with a male companion, Bruce Cerny. The three argued and Cerny shot Caponio. Cerny was convicted of second-degree murder.

Becker has been serving time at the California Institution for Women in Corona. Since her conviction, she has learned a trade, graphic design, and earned a certificate to teach others how to drive, Sessa said. Sessa said 3,042 letters were written to the parole board on her behalf. One came from E. Warren McGuire, the judge who presided over her trial in 1980, and was read before the panel.

“I would evaluate Ms. Becker as the most successfully rehabilitated inmate I’ve ever come across,” he wrote.

On Tuesday, McGuire, who retired from the Marin County Superior Court in 1988, called Schwarzenegger’s decision to allow Becker’s release “a very positive thing.”

“He’s approved some releases, disapproved other recommendations by the board,” McGuire said. “It shows he’s looking into each case individually.”

Becker’s supporters learned of the governor’s decision moments after Becker heard the news Monday.

Arlene Goetze, director of the Catholic Women’s Network in Sunnyvale, said Becker telephoned her.

“She sounded very much at peace,” Goetze said.

Becker has written columns about beauty, hope and faith in the network’s newspaper since 1995. For the last month, as Becker’s file was on the governor’s desk for consideration, Goetze has organized a phone, letter and e-mail campaign directed at the governor, his wife and his staff.