Kids Behind Bars: Life Or Parole was a popular series on A&E. In this article on My Crime Library we are going to look at the 2023 updates of the inmates who were hoping that their life sentences were finally going to be reduced and they would have a shot at parole.
Lacy Aaron Schmidt 2023
Lacy Aaron Schmidt was sentenced to life without parole for the murder of his ex girlfriend Alana Calahan. At the time of the murder Lacy Aaron Schmidt was fourteen years old. Lacy Aaron Schmidt would be resentenced to life without parole.
Curtis Brooks was fifteen years old when he was involved in a carjacking that would leave Christopher Ramos dead. Curtis Brooks along with three other individuals would grab Christopher Ramos as he walked towards his vehicle. Curtis Brooks would be convicted of felony murder would be sentenced to life without parole. On resentencing Curtis Brooks prison term was reduced and he would be freed from prison after serving 22 years.
Timothy Chavers 2023
Timothy Chavers was a seventeen year old from Florida when he fatally shot 17-year-old Christopher Pitcock. According to court documents Timothy Chavers and three others lured the victim to a remote location under the pretense of buying drugs. Timothy Chavers would shoot and kill the victim. Timothy would be sentenced to life in prison without parole upon resentencing he would again be sentenced to life without parole
Bobby Gonzales was fifteen years old when he would murder the mother of his girlfriend Krissi Lynn Caldwell and attempted to murder her father. Bobby Gonzales who was under the impression his girlfriend was being abused would be sentenced to life without parole. Upon resentencing he would be sentenced to life in prison with parole. His first parole hearing will be in 2027
Brandon Moore was fifteen years old when he took part in the kidnapping and gang rape of a 21 year old college student in Ohio. Brandon Moore who was originally sentence to 141 years in prison would later have his sentence reduced to fifty years and will be eligible for release when he is 62 years old
James Wiley 2023
James Wiley was fifteen years old when he murdered his stepmother and three siblings in Wyoming. James Wiley would plead guilty to the four murders and be sentenced to life without parole. James Wiley would go for a resentencing hearing however his original sentence would stay the same
Otis Daniels was fifteen years old when he murdered a woman during a robbery in Georgia. According to court documents Otis Daniels would force his way into a home where he would shoot a woman and her daughter. The woman would later die in the hospital. Otis Daniels would be sentenced to life without parole. On resentencing Otis would be resentenced to life in prison
Ronald Bell was seventeen years old when he and two other teenagers: Kristel Maestas and Renee Lincks would kidnap, torture and murder a man in Florida. Ronald Bell was initially sentenced to death however his sentence would later be commuted to life in prison without parole after it was declared executing juveniles was unconstitutional. Kristel Maestas and Ronald Bell would go for a resentencing hearing however both would receive the same sentence life without parole
Shelton Jackson was seventeen years old when he murdered a man during a robbery. Shelton Jackson was sentenced to life in prison without parole in Florida and is currently going through the resentencing process
Dana Barker was seventeen years old when she fatally shot her step mother in Alabama. Dana Barker was sentenced to life without parole and is currently going through the resentencing process
Deon Haynes was a sixteen year old from Michigan when he participated in a robbery that would leave seventeen year old Christy Davis dead. Deon Haynes would go through the resentencing process and his original life without parole sentence be reduced and he was ultimately released from prison
Justin Long was fifteen years old when he fatally stabbed his adoptive father. Justin Long was sentenced to life without parole. Justin Long is due to go through resentencing in 2022
Malcolm Thrower was a seventeen years old when he would kidnap, rob and stab a woman to death in Florida. Malcolm Thrower would be sentenced to life without parole. Malcolm Thrower is going through the resentencing process
Richard Kinder was seventeen years old when he would kidnap and murder a teenage girl and attempted to murder the girl’s boyfriend. Richard Kinder partner David Durden was sentenced to death and executed in 2000. Richard Kinder would be sentenced to life without parole due to his age at the time of the crime.
Miguel Gaitan and Joel Ramos would murder 4 people at the age of fourteen in Washington State. Both were fourteen years old at the time of the murders. Miguel Gaitan and Joel Ramos would be sentenced to life in prison without parole. Joel Ramos would be sentenced to 8 years and be released in 2021. Miguel Gaitan is currently going through the resentencing process.
James Wiley was fifteen years old when he would murder his stepmother and three younger stepbrothers in Thermopolis Wyoming. According to court documents James Wiley would grab a shotgun and shoot his stepmother and two younger stepbrothers. The third stepbrother attempted to flee from the house however Wiley would grab the elementary student and drag him back in the home, reload the shotgun and shoot the child in the head. James would then attempt to burn the house down.
In court James Wiley would plead guilty to four counts of murder and would be sentenced to life in prison without parole. This teen killer would attempt to get his sentence reduced however the court was not hearing it and dismissed the appeal.
James Wiley 2023 Information
Name:
Wiley , James Michael
WDOC Inmate Number:
16047
Status:
Inmate
Projected Discharge Date:
N/A
Parole Eligibility Date:
N/A
Correctional Facility/Office of Supervision:
Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution 7076 Road 55 F Torrington WY 82240 (307) 532-3198
Current Offense:
1st Degree Murder
Counts:
3
Sentence Date:
12/2/1991
Length of Sentence:
Life
Sentencing County:
Converse
Consecutive Sentence:
Yes. Consecutive sentence information will be displayed at the time the consecutive sentence goes into effect.
Current Offense:
2nd Degree Murder
Counts:
1
Sentence Date:
12/2/1991
Length of Sentence:
Life
Sentencing County:
Converse
Consecutive Sentence:
James Wiley Other News
A hearing scheduled for June 26 in Hot Springs District Court regarding the sentence of James Wiley has been cancelled, following the dismissal of Wiley’s motion to correct an illegal sentence.
In his motion, James Wiley alleged that the sentence imposed on him as a juvenile violated established constitutional standards. Special Deputy Hot Springs County Attorney Michael Blonigen filed a response to Wiley’s motion, arguing that his sentence does not constitute one of life without parole and that he would be also ineligible for parole due to an escape attempt. Blonigen further requested summary disposition of Wiley’s pending motion.
Though no formal court order was available at press time, Blonigen confirmed last week that the court did, in fact, grant his motion to summarily dispose of Wiley’s motion, based on the grounds and argument presented by Blonigen.
According to background on the case, on November 24, 1990, James Wiley killed his stepmother, Becky Wiley, and his stepbrothers Tyrone, Willie and Jessie; all three boys were in elementary school. Wiley killed them in the family home with a shotgun. The last boy was wounded and ran outside, but Wiley pulled him back into the house and shot him in the head, reloading the shotgun to do so. Wiley then attempted to burn the house down in order to eliminate evidence.
James Wiley entered his guilty plea on Dec. 2, 1991, admitting he thought about the killings in advance and that he attempted to burn the house down.
Shortly after the incident, Wiley was arrested and charged with four counts of first-degree murder, first-degree arson and a burglary that took place the night before the murders. In his plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder and first-degree arson. The burglary was dismissed.
He was sentenced to life, as required by law, on the counts of first-degree murder and 20 years to life on the second-degree murder charge. The sentences were ordered served concurrently. On the arson charge he was sentenced to 18-20 years, served consecutively to the murder sentence. The sentence was deemed by the judge to commence on Nov. 24, 1990; Wiley was 15 at the time.
The history goes on to note Michael’s problems while in confinement, including his escaping from the Wyoming State Penitentiary when he was 20. He was subsequently convicted on the escape charge and given an additional sentence by the Second Judicial District Court of Carbon County.
On June 17, 2013, Wiley filed the motion to correct illegal sentence, alleging the imposed sentence was unconstitutional. His claim rests on the claim that a life sentence without parole was declared unconstitutional except under special circumstances, when the convicted offender is under the age of 18 at the time of his or her crimes. That principle was extended to include long-term sentences that are the functional equivalent of life without parole.
In Wyoming the principles were adopted and applied retroactively to existing sentences subject to collateral attack. The Wyoming Supreme Court further held a statute, which provides for parole after 25 years on any life sentence on offenders who committed their offense, applied retroactively.
Wiley’s life sentence was converted to life with parole after 25 years, by operation of law. It’s argued in Blonigen’s motion that no further action was required, and the court made clear the ability for the parole board to grant parole is based on current law governing parole, with no reference to as to when sentence was imposed.
“With the stroke of a pen,” Bolingen argues, “[Wiley] was made eligible for parole after 25 years — 6.25 years for each innocent person he slaughtered.” Therefore, the life sentence imposed on him cannot be an illegal sentence.
The motion further argues that sentences received by Wiley must be considered in the aggregate, meaning consecutive sentences result in the functional equivalent of a life sentence. Present sentences require Wiley to serve 18-20 years consecutive to the sentences imposed for murder. That sentence could be modified by application of statutory good time. Based on those rules, the average inmate serves only two-thirds of the minimum sentence, or 12 years in Wiley’s case.
At the end of 12 years, Wiley’s net sentence would be 37 years; he would be 52 years old upon release. In a country where life expectancy for white males exceeds 70 years, Blonigen argued, that cannot be deemed the functional equivalent of a life sentence. Even at the full minimum sentence, he would be 58 when released, and at the maximum he would be 60. If the resulting sentence is not a “de facto” life sentence, Blonigen stated, it cannot be deemed illegal.
Based on facts presented, Blonigen argued there is no reason to have a lengthy hearing as the imposed sentence simply doesn’t amount to life without parole under current law, and there is no need for further hearing unless the court finds the existing sentence is equivalent to life without parole.
If the court does find the sentence is equivalent to life without parole, a new sentencing hearing is necessary.
Blonigen further argued that Wiley’s case is unique because regardless of the court’s ruling, he would not be parole-eligible because of his escape when he was 20, as there are no provisions that require parole be granted despite behavior while incarcerated.
Blonigen noted that, under Wyoming Statute 7-13-402, a prisoner is not eligible for parole on a sentence if, while serving the sentence, he or she escaped, attempted to escape or assisted others to escape. Under this statute, Wiley is prevented from ever being paroled on the life sentence he was serving when he tried to escape. He can challenge parole board actions, but not through current proceedings, and discussion of whether the existing sentence is equivalent to life without parole is moot without foundation or effect.
James Wiley is currently incarcerated at the Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution
James Wiley Release Date
James Wiley is serving a life sentence
James Wiley Photos
James Wiley Other News
A hearing scheduled for June 26 in Hot Springs District Court regarding the sentence of James Wiley has been cancelled, following the dismissal of Wiley’s motion to correct an illegal sentence.
In his motion, James Wiley alleged that the sentence imposed on him as a juvenile violated established constitutional standards. Special Deputy Hot Springs County Attorney Michael Blonigen filed a response to Wiley’s motion, arguing that his sentence does not constitute one of life without parole and that he would be also ineligible for parole due to an escape attempt. Blonigen further requested summary disposition of Wiley’s pending motion.
Though no formal court order was available at press time, Blonigen confirmed last week that the court did, in fact, grant his motion to summarily dispose of Wiley’s motion, based on the grounds and argument presented by Blonigen.
According to background on the case, on November 24, 1990, James Wiley killed his stepmother, Becky Wiley, and his stepbrothers Tyrone, Willie and Jessie; all three boys were in elementary school. Wiley killed them in the family home with a shotgun. The last boy was wounded and ran outside, but Wiley pulled him back into the house and shot him in the head, reloading the shotgun to do so. Wiley then attempted to burn the house down in order to eliminate evidence.
Wiley entered his guilty plea on Dec. 2, 1991, admitting he thought about the killings in advance and that he attempted to burn the house down.
Shortly after the incident, Wiley was arrested and charged with four counts of first-degree murder, first-degree arson and a burglary that took place the night before the murders. In his plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder and first-degree arson. The burglary was dismissed.
He was sentenced to life, as required by law, on the counts of first-degree murder and 20 years to life on the second-degree murder charge. The sentences were ordered served concurrently. On the arson charge he was sentenced to 18-20 years, served consecutively to the murder sentence. The sentence was deemed by the judge to commence on Nov. 24, 1990; Wiley was 15 at the time.
The history goes on to note Michael’s problems while in confinement, including his escaping from the Wyoming State Penitentiary when he was 20. He was subsequently convicted on the escape charge and given an additional sentence by the Second Judicial District Court of Carbon County.
On June 17, 2013, Wiley filed the motion to correct illegal sentence, alleging the imposed sentence was unconstitutional. His claim rests on the claim that a life sentence without parole was declared unconstitutional except under special circumstances, when the convicted offender is under the age of 18 at the time of his or her crimes. That principle was extended to include long-term sentences that are the functional equivalent of life without parole.
In Wyoming the principles were adopted and applied retroactively to existing sentences subject to collateral attack. The Wyoming Supreme Court further held a statute, which provides for parole after 25 years on any life sentence on offenders who committed their offense, applied retroactively.
Wiley’s life sentence was converted to life with parole after 25 years, by operation of law. It’s argued in Blonigen’s motion that no further action was required, and the court made clear the ability for the parole board to grant parole is based on current law governing parole, with no reference to as to when sentence was imposed.
“With the stroke of a pen,” Bolingen argues, “[James Wiley] was made eligible for parole after 25 years — 6.25 years for each innocent person he slaughtered.” Therefore, the life sentence imposed on him cannot be an illegal sentence.
The motion further argues that sentences received by Wiley must be considered in the aggregate, meaning consecutive sentences result in the functional equivalent of a life sentence. Present sentences require James Wiley to serve 18-20 years consecutive to the sentences imposed for murder. That sentence could be modified by application of statutory good time. Based on those rules, the average inmate serves only two-thirds of the minimum sentence, or 12 years in Wiley’s case.
At the end of 12 years, James Wiley’s net sentence would be 37 years; he would be 52 years old upon release. In a country where life expectancy for white males exceeds 70 years, Blonigen argued, that cannot be deemed the functional equivalent of a life sentence. Even at the full minimum sentence, he would be 58 when released, and at the maximum he would be 60. If the resulting sentence is not a “de facto” life sentence, Blonigen stated, it cannot be deemed illegal.
Based on facts presented, Blonigen argued there is no reason to have a lengthy hearing as the imposed sentence simply doesn’t amount to life without parole under current law, and there is no need for further hearing unless the court finds the existing sentence is equivalent to life without parole.
If the court does find the sentence is equivalent to life without parole, a new sentencing hearing is necessary.
Blonigen further argued that Wiley’s case is unique because regardless of the court’s ruling, he would not be parole-eligible because of his escape when he was 20, as there are no provisions that require parole be granted despite behavior while incarcerated.
Blonigen noted that, under Wyoming Statute 7-13-402, a prisoner is not eligible for parole on a sentence if, while serving the sentence, he or she escaped, attempted to escape or assisted others to escape. Under this statute, Wiley is prevented from ever being paroled on the life sentence he was serving when he tried to escape. He can challenge parole board actions, but not through current proceedings, and discussion of whether the existing sentence is equivalent to life without parole is moot without foundation or effect.
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