Two men convicted of murders in 1990s in Modesto granted parole

A Modesto man and a Ripon man, both serving time for murders in Modesto in the 1990s, were found suitable for parole in separate hearings of the state Board of Parole this month.

At a hearing March 20 at California State Prison, Solano, the board voted to start the process to set a parole date for Efrain Rodriguez of Ripon.

On May 2, 1996, Rodriguez in one crime was convicted of murder in the second degree with use of a gun, and in a second crime was convicted of voluntary manslaughter with use of a gun. He’s been serving a sentence of 20 years to life.

On Feb. 26, 1994, in Lupe’s Bar in Modesto, Rodriguez had been dancing with one victim’s girlfriend, according to a news release from the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office. Rodriguez went to the restroom and on his return found his beer had been spilled. He pulled his gun and fired six to seven shots at the victim, killing the man. He claimed the victim, who was found with a gun in his hand, was pulling the weapon on him. Rodriguez fled the scene.

On March 19, 1994, Rodriguez tried to break up a fight outside another bar. After a beer was splashed on him, he drew his gun, fired and killed the man who splashed the beer. He again ran from the scene, but was captured months later and prosecuted in the two slayings.

Deputy District Attorney Brad Nix appeared at the hearing and argued for continued confinement based on the facts of the crime, the inmate’s lack of insight into the cause of the crime and the inmate’s poor future plans. This was Rodriguez’s fourth parole hearing. His parole date will be set within the next 90 days or so, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

At a parole board hearing March 19 at California State Prison, Solano, Aelam Khensanphanh of Modesto was found suitable for parole.

Khensanphanh was convicted of first-degree murder on Jan. 31, 1994, and has been serving a sentence of life with the possibility of parole.

On March 12, 1993, Khensanphanh gathered with several fellow members of the “Killer Roselawn Boys” street gang near Colorado and Pelton avenues in south Modesto. About 7:30 p.m., Khensanphanh got into a verbal argument with another group of people. During the argument, he pulled a gun and fired about six shots into the crowd. One of the rounds struck a 17-year-old, who was rushed to a hospital, where he died.

Stanislaus County Deputy District Attorney Wendell Emerson argued at the hearing for continued confinement based on the defendant’s lack of remorse for the murder, the seriousness of the prisoner’s conduct that led to the murder, and the unacceptable danger he said Khensanphanh would pose to the community if released.

The victim’s mother and brother were present at the hearing and pleaded with the board to deny parole for Khensanphanh.

After citing new legal provisions enacted by the state to ease prison overcrowding, the Board of Parole Hearings recommended that Khensanphanh be released on parole, the District Attorney’s Office said.

This story was originally published March 30, 2015 at 2:24 PM with the headline "Two men convicted of murders in 1990s in Modesto granted parole."