The Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office has reported that a Turlock man convicted in killing a nine-month-old infant in 1993 has been found suitable for parole.
Fernando Arreola, 43, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 15 years to life in 1995.
Arreola denied killing the infant at the time of the trial, on appeal, and twice at previous parole hearings, but eventually admitting to the murder in 2012 at a parole eligibility hearing. He has also admitted to abusing the nine-month-old at least 30 times during the five months he lived with the infant.
The Stanislaus County DA’s Office reports that the hearing panel determined that Arreola was suitable for parole, noting that he was 23 years old when he murdered the baby and had no prior criminal record of assault. In determining Arreola’s eligibility for parole, the hearing panel discarded the 2012 psychiatric report which determined Arreola was a moderate risk for future violence, saying Arreola had shown progress since the report.
In 2002 and 2007, Arreola was found to be unsuitable for parole. However, the hearing panel observed that Arreola had not been in trouble in prison since 2007.
As part of his parole conditions, Arreola is to have no contact with the victim’s next of kin and he is not to be left alone with any child under the age of 18 years old.
The case has been forwarded to the Governor’s office for review. The Governor will have s 120 to 150 days to decide whether or not to grant parole.
