FOX 26 reports on parolees committing new crimes get attention of lawmakers

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - In the last year FOX 26 has uncovered two cases of parolees allowed to remain free even after being convicted of new crimes who allegedly went on to commit murder.

An area state representative is proposing a law to make the state’s parole board more accountable.

24-year-old Kiara Taylor made it clear to anyone paying attention. He wasn’t going to abide by the terms of his parole or the law.

“While on parole this convicted criminal committed three additional felonies involving burglary. During a revocation hearing the parolees officer recommended revocatio,n but was overruled by the Board of Pardons and Paroles,” said state representative Sarah Davis during a House Corrections hearing.

Even being a wanted fugitive and picking up yet another conviction didn’t send Taylor back to prison.

“Three days after he was released from the Harris County Jail he allegedly shot and killed 19-year-old Peter Mielke,” crime victims advocate Andy Kahan told the committee.

“You didn’t do your job. My son is dead,” Peter’s mother Dana Mielke said.

Last summer we told you about 42-year-old Leroy Stoots. He too was allowed to remain on parole after picking up another conviction. Now Stoots is charged with the murder of 31-year-old Kimba Sesay.

“How many folks are even out there on our streets,” Davis said.

That prompted the state representative to file House Bill 2468 in hopes of finding out.

The parole board tells us from fiscal year 2010 through fiscal year 2015, around 6,000 parolees each fiscal year picked up new convictions, but did not have their paroles revoked.

“The board is allowing criminals who go on to commit crimes but yet not have their parole revoked there is a problem and people are dying because of it,” Davis said during the hearing.

The parole board chairman admitted in the hearing on Davis’s bill they don’t keep track of the types of crimes committed by parolees who are not sent back to prison.

“The fact that they don’t know is troubling to me and it should be troubling to everybody,” Kahan said.