Santa Rosa Man Convicted as a Teen of Torture in 2006 Denied Release on Parole

District Attorney Jill Ravitch announced today that on April 10, 2018, the California Board of Prison Terms denied parole to 29-year-old Eddie Menefee, who was convicted in 2006 of torture and sexual assault of John Doe, a 15-year-old boy. Menefee who was 16 at the time was prosecuted as an adult. 

District Attorney Ravitch stated, “We believe that this inmate is a current danger to the community and are in agreement with the decision to deny parole at this time.”

In 2005 Menefee was at a friend’s house when the victim happened to show up. They did not know each other. During the encounter, Menefee overheard a comment made by the victim that he perceived to be an insult and as a result severely battered and sexually assaulted the victim over a period of several hours. The victim was significantly injured from the attack. 

In 2006 Menefee entered a no-contest plea to charges of torture and forcible sexual assault for an agreed upon prison sentence of life with the possibility of parole after 15 years. Having served most of the 15 years Menefee is now eligible for parole. This was his first parole hearing. 

On April 10, 2018, a hearing was held at the California Department of Corrections California Men’s Colony San Luis Obispo to determine whether Menefee currently remains an unreasonable risk of harm to the public, or whether he should be released back into the community on a grant of parole. After taking testimony from Menefee, reviewing prison files and psychiatric evaluations, hearing arguments from both Menefee’s attorney and the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office, and hearing a powerful victim impact statement given by the victim’s mother, the California Board of Prison Terms issued a three year denial of parole. 

Deputy District Attorney Marianna Green prosecuted the case in 2006 and appeared at the hearing in opposition to Menefee’s release on parole on behalf of the District Attorney’s Office.