Jacobs Criticizes State Parole Board for Release of Another Convicted Killer

(Albany, NY) New York State Senator Chris Jacobs (60^th SD), issued the following statement after yet another terrible and ill-advised decision by the New York State Parole Board to grant early release to a convicted murderer.

Senator Chris Jacobs:

“It is with a heavy heart that I express my fury and sadness with the decision by the state Parole Board to release convicted killer Richard LaBarbera. This monster, along with his convicted accomplice Robert McCain, brutally assaulted, raped, sodomized and murdered 16 year-old Paula Bohovesky, a beautiful young woman and aspiring actress as she was walking home from the library in 1980.  This man should never go free.

Keep this in mind – neither of these convicts have ever repented for their crimes. To this day, they blame one another for the heinous torture and murder of an innocent teenager. Moreover, it was only one month ago that Lois Bohovesky, the victim’s mother, was calling on the Parole Board to deny LaBarbera’s request for freedom. They ignored her and thousands of others who opposed his release.

Simply put, this is a disgraceful act by the Parole Board, and it adds to the growing list of killers that have recently been released – killers like Herman Bell, Judith Clark, and Matthew Solomon.  I am afraid that the parole board may not be done torturing this poor family and ignoring our justice system as LaBarbera’s equally guilty and equally vicious accomplice is up for parole next month.

None of this would be happening if not for Governor Cuomo’s handpicked appointees, who have repeatedly ignored the voices of victims and their families in favor of the most vicious criminals in our society.  Shame on the Parole Board, shame on Governor Cuomo, and shame on the Democrats in the state Legislature for allowing this madness to continue.”