Willis
Willis v. Kane
Opinion
Opinion
Patel, J.
ORDER GRANTING HABEAS PETITION
INTRODUCTION
Ronald Albert Willis, a prisoner at the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad, filed this pro se action seeking a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 . This matter is now before the court for consideration of the merits of the petition. After 18 years of incarceration on his 15-to-life sentence during which he has exhibited exemplary behavior, Willis’ crime does not provide some evidence to support the parole board’s decision that he is currently unsuitable for parole. The petition will be granted.
BACKGROUND
Ronald Albert Willis was convicted in 1985 in Los Angeles County Superior Court of second degree murder. He was sentenced to a prison term of fifteen years to life. His habeas petition does not concern that conviction directly, but instead focuses on an August 28, 2003 decision by the Board of Prison Terms (now known as the Board of Parole Hearings (“BPH”)) finding him unsuitable for parole.
The specifics regarding the crime and the circumstances regarding parole suitability are described in the Discussion section later in this order and are only mentioned here in brief. Willis killed his 19-month old daughter in…