State parole board moves to release Modesto murderer
After being denied four times, a 74-year-old former Modestan convicted of murder has been recommended for parole, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office reported.
The decision on Ray Stanley Walters came after a March 3 hearing of the State Board of Parole Hearings held at Solano State Prison in Vacaville.
Walters was convicted of murder in the Nov. 17, 1991, shooting death of his neighbor Randy Fernandes. He was sentenced to 18 years to life in prison for second-degree murder.
According to trial evidence, Fernandes arrived at his residence, 127 N. Santa Ana Ave., in the early morning hours that day. Walters, who lived across the street, confronted him, and an argument ensued.
Walters pulled out a .38-caliber revolver and fired twice at Fernandes, hitting him once. He then went inside and went to sleep without calling police for assistance, the news release said.
Walters was an alcoholic who reportedly carried the revolver during confrontations with neighbors, the news release said. He had been overheard at least once expressing his dislike of Fernandes saying he’d shoot him if their disagreements continued.
Bee reports at the time of the homicide said Walters claimed he didn’t know the gun was loaded. He also contended Fernandes began to charge toward him, and he fired to scare him.
At the hearing, Deputy District Attorney Merrill Hoult argued for denial of parole because Walters continues to pose a high risk to society. Hoult argued that Walters lacks insight into what caused him to commit the crime and has not shown remorse.
Family members of the victim attended and also asked the board to deny Walters parole. A nephew provided a written statement: “I don’t care what age a person is, it doesn’t take much to pull a trigger on a gun to shoot someone.”
The board recommended parole, finding Walters does not pose an unreasonable risk to public safety given his advanced age and his good behavior while in prison.
