ALBANY – Senator Catharine Young (R,C,I – 57^th District) is once again calling on residents of her district to pursue an urgent letter-writing campaign to the New York State Parole Board to help keep Edward Kindt behind bars when he becomes eligible for parole this month. At 15-years-old, Kindt was convicted of raping and brutally murdering Penny Lea Brown, of Salamanca, on Mother’s Day 1999 while she was jogging on a trail with her two dogs.

“Edward Kindt took the innocent life of Penny Brown, a wife, mother of two, and well-respected nurse-midwife. She deserved to have her life, and Kindt selfishly stole that from her.  He is up for parole next week. I urge residents throughout the district to write letters of support in keeping this violent, dangerous individual from freely walking our streets,” Senator Young said.

In 2003, prior to becoming a Senator, then-Assemblywoman Young lead the fight for four years before successfully passing Penny’s Law in the State Assembly. The bill, named in honor of Penny Brown, affords judges the discretion to impose more severe sentences on juveniles tried as adults.

“Before Penny’s Law, juveniles convicted of second-degree murder faced a maximum sentence of only nine years to life. Now, with Penny’s Law in place, those individuals may face a more severe sentence – a minimum of 7 ½ years to life and a maximum of 15 years to life. Families of victims should not be forced to have to continually work to ensure offenders remain in jail. Penny’s Law provides a just punishment for dangerous criminals who commit heinous, depraved acts of murder, and it protects our families and our communities by keeping those individuals in jail,” Senator Young said.

Letters of support denying Kindt's parole can be sent to the Department of Corrections, Board of Parole, 97 Central Ave., Albany, NY, 12206, ATTN: Andrea Evans, chairwoman. The letters should be sent as soon as possible and contain the following prisoner information: Edward Kindt, NNYSID 02879580, DIN # 01A4001. Emails may be sent to www.parole.ny.gov.