Denial of parole upheld for killer in 1984 slaying
The Nevada Supreme Court has ruled the state Parole Board properly considered the criminal history of an inmate who was denied parole in the 1984 slaying of Pamela Leavitt in Las Vegas.
Ismael Santillanes was sentenced to two terms of 10 years to life in prison.
Santillanes was granted parole on his first term to begin serving his second sentence. He filed suit after he was denied parole in October 2008.
Santillanes is now 49. He argued Carson City District Court Judge Todd Russell was wrong to rule the law requires the board to consider the seriousness of Santillanes’ crime and his criminal history.
The Supreme Court ruled the board acted within its discretion and that Santillanes had not shown a clear, legal right to parole.
