Charles Manson Dept.

[Joe Guy]

rubato often uses a descriptive scientific method in his writings. That's why he used "Scum, and an astonishingly low level of scum at that", when a simple Yours Truly would have done.

[dales]

Charles "Tex" Watson might be granted parole next month.

Charles “Tex” Watson, one of the several Manson Family members convicted for the infamous 1969 ‘Helter Skelter’ murders of Sharon Tate and 6 others is expected to be released from prison during a November 2016, parole hearing.

Watson, was a central member of the Manson Family and was commonly referred to as Charles Manson’s right-hand man. On August 8, 1969, Tex Watson and 3 other Manson followers murdered actress Sharon Tate and 4 others at a house in Benedict Canyon, Los Angeles. Sharon Tate, the actress and wife to prominent film director Roman Polanski, was over 8-months pregnant at the time of her murder.

The next night, Watson along with 5 other Manson Family members, including Charles Manson, traveled to Los Feliz, Los Angeles, and participated in the murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca.

On October 21, 1979, Watson was convicted of 7 counts of first degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder. After being found guilty for the murders, he was sentenced to death, however, eventually escaped execution when California temporarily banned the death penalty in 1972.

Watson’s minimum eligible parole date was November 26, 1976 and he has been denied parole 14 times, most recently in November 2011. Watson will attend his next parole hearing sometime during November 2016 and according to officials will more than likely see the outside of California’s Mule Creek State Prison for the first time in over 45 years.

According to officials, the parole board will likely grant Charles “Tex” Watson early release from prison at his November 2016, hearing due to the inmate’s clear and sustained rehabilitation along with recently diagnosed health issues which will likely cause Watson to experience a rapid state of deterioration. Multiple prison officials have expressed the belief that Tex Watson is no longer considered to be a threat to himself or society.

As news of Tex Watson’s impending release from prison spreads, many have utilized social media to voice their displeasure surrounding the idea of Charles Manson’s right-hand man once again being free to walk the streets. One such social media user, Shawn Patterson, has already created an online petition in attempt to prevent Watson from being released despite his health issues and supposed clear and sustained rehabilitation.

http://associatedmediacoverage.com/mans ... le-age-70/

[RayThom]

Charles "Tex" Watson might be granted parole next month... Watson’s minimum eligible parole date was November 26, 1976 and he has been denied parole 14 times...

I thought it was a few more than that. Regardless, at 14 (+/-) denials I'm betting he's never getting out of prison, unless it's horizontally in a CEABIS bag.

[BoSoxGal]

If he's shown clear and sustained rehabilitation, he deserves to breathe free once more before shortly thereafter dying, I think.

These people were cult members. By definition doesn't that suggest brainwashing? Some mercy is in order, as to compassionate release before death.

eta: I predict it won't happen though. Our system has little compassion.

[dales]

How much "compassion" did Tex Watson have when butchering the people on Cielo Drive that hot July night in 1969?

He wasn't known as Manson's "right hand man" for nothing.

[BoSoxGal]

'Vengeance is mine,' saith the Lord.

[Jarlaxle]

He should have spent the last 40+ years in solitary confinement, never leaving a 6x8 cell and never seeing another human being cor the rest of his life.

[Big RR]

If he's shown clear and sustained rehabilitation, he deserves to breathe free once more before shortly thereafter dying, I think.

These people were cult members. By definition doesn't that suggest brainwashing? Some mercy is in order, as to compassionate release before death.

eta: I predict it won't happen though. Our system has little compassion.

I don't know if I'd say he "deserves" anything, but I do think he has the right to be treated the same as any similarly situated prisoner. That's the thing about rights, they are not deserved or earned, they are free to all.

As for compassion, our system does have very little. And releasing a terminally ill mean after nearly 50 years in prison so he can die at home doesn't seem to be all that much of a strain. It's extremely unlikely he'll offend again; and for the fiscally conservative the state will save a lot by not having to keep him in prison and care for him there. Yes, it was a horrendous crime; but many others who committed crimes just as brutal, but not as well known in the press, get released under the same circumstances (and Linda Kasabian, who made a deal with the prosecutors, escaped any imprisonment at all). I'm honestly not sure what is gained by keeping him in prison, but I agree with BSG that it is unlikely he will get out.

jarl--to what end? Rehabilitation? Punishment so he won't do it again? Deterrence of similar spree murderers?

[Lord Jim]

so he can die at home doesn't seem to be all that much of a strain.

Seems only fair...

The people he murdered got to die at home....

[Big RR]

Well now you're starting to get it Jim.

Seriously, though, is there a reason this person should be treated any differently than any other brutal murderer? Indeed, in a case just as infamous (for its time), Nathan Leopold was eventually paroled.

I'm not saying Tex Watson should get paroled (I don't know any of the details of his application), but I don't think he should be automatically rejected because of the connection with Manson.

[dales]

'Vengeance is mine,' saith the Lord.

Out of context.

[Jarlaxle]

Well now you're starting to get it Jim.

Seriously, though, is there a reason this person should be treated any differently than any other brutal murderer? Indeed, in a case just as infamous (for its time), Nathan Leopold was eventually paroled.

I'm not saying Tex Watson should get paroled (I don't know any of the details of his application), but I don't think he should be automatically rejected because of the connection with Manson.

Nathan Leopold should never have left his cell except in a body bag.

Honestly...he was a poster child for bringing back drawing and quartering.

[Jarlaxle]

If he's shown clear and sustained rehabilitation, he deserves to breathe free once more before shortly thereafter dying, I think.

These people were cult members. By definition doesn't that suggest brainwashing? Some mercy is in order, as to compassionate release before death.

eta: I predict it won't happen though. Our system has little compassion.

I don't know if I'd say he "deserves" anything, but I do think he has the right to be treated the same as any similarly situated prisoner. That's the thing about rights, they are not deserved or earned, they are free to all.

As for compassion, our system does have very little. And releasing a terminally ill mean after nearly 50 years in prison so he can die at home doesn't seem to be all that much of a strain. It's extremely unlikely he'll offend again; and for the fiscally conservative the state will save a lot by not having to keep him in prison and care for him there. Yes, it was a horrendous crime; but many others who committed crimes just as brutal, but not as well known in the press, get released under the same circumstances (and Linda Kasabian, who made a deal with the prosecutors, escaped any imprisonment at all). I'm honestly not sure what is gained by keeping him in prison, but I agree with BSG that it is unlikely he will get out.

jarl--to what end? Rehabilitation? Punishment so he won't do it again? Deterrence of similar spree murderers?

Punishment and protection of prison personnel. He is not rehabilitatable, due to being absolutely pure and undiluted evil.

[Big RR]

Well, number one, I have never heard of any problems with him attacking others in prison, so it was likely not needed for protection of prison guards, etc. But the most dangerous prisoners can be and are handled that way.

As for punishment, I cannot agree that punishment without any purpose (if it could help rehabilitate him I might support it if it could be shown to work, although I doubt it could) is proper--if he can never be rehabilitated/released just keep him away from society. Certainly he shouldn't live in the lap of luxury,but there is no need to make him suffer IMHO.

[dales]

Yeah, old Tex has sure "suffered" in prison.


From Wiki:

Incarceration[edit]

According to his prisoner outreach web site, Watson converted to Christianity in 1975.[5] Will You Die For Me?, Watson's autobiography, as told to "Chaplain Ray" (Ray Hoekstra), was published in 1978.[6] In 1979, he married Kristin Joan Svege. Through conjugal visits they were able to have four children (three boys, one girl), but those visits for life prisoners were banned in October 1996. After 24 years of marriage, Svege divorced Watson after meeting another man in 2003.[7] Svege and Watson remain friends as parents of their children. He had become an ordained minister in 1981, and graduated from California Coast University in 2009 with a B.S. in Business Management.[8][9]

In August 1982, a Southern California‑based group, Citizens for Truth, submitted some 80,000 petition signatures and several thousand letters opposing Watson's parole.[citation needed] The group received help[clarification needed] from Doris Tate, the mother of victim Sharon Tate. The group was successful in convincing[how?] the California Board of Prison Terms to deny parole for Watson. In later years the group, along with Doris Tate, and her daughters, Patricia and Debra, submitted petitions with more than two million signatures.[citation needed]

In 2012, Watson disputed a request to release recordings of conversations with his attorney. The recordings became part of a bankruptcy proceeding involving the deceased attorney's law firm. Members of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said they believed the recordings might contain clues about unsolved murder cases involving the Manson family. Watson asked the presiding judge to allow police to listen to the tapes but not take possession of them.[10][11] The LAPD did acquire the tapes, which allegedly contained Watson confessing to other murders,[citation needed] but reported that they did not contain any new information. In September 2014, Richard Pfeiffer, an attorney for Leslie Van Houten, said that he was considering subpoenaing the tapes to look for information that might help Van Houten in her next parole hearing.[12]

While incarceration might not be the most pleasant for Tex, he has been allowed many privileges that some on the outside can only dream about (obtaining college degrees and such).

His "Abounding Love" ministries has been a cash cow for Tex buying him many privileges during his incarceration.

So excuse me if I shed not a tear for this convicted murderer.

[RayThom]

... He had become an ordained minister in 1981...

Well, there you have it. It's obvious that Reverend Tex is a pent up and latent child diddler and, in order to save the children, he must serve the maximum penalty.

As Donald J. Trump would say, "you know it... and I know it."

[Big RR]

Yeah, old Tex has sure "suffered" in prison

Of course, I didn't say that he did or didn't, I was only responding to Jarl's post.

Likewise, I am not shedding a tear for him either; he is a convicted murderer and should be treated in the same manner as we treat other similarly-situated convicted murderers.

Also, do you have any links to show what privileges the money from his ministry has bought him?

[dales]

BigRR - - - -

There is a lot of info online about Tex in prison.

Being a Prison Chaplin he had access to things not available to other inmates.

Feel free to find them on your own.

[BoSoxGal]

Poll: do folks believe in rehabilitation, or not?

Is prison retributive or rehabilitative? What percentage of each?

Comments please.

[dales]

Sure do!

So what?