Convicted murderer denied geriatric compassion release
By Margaret Kavanagh , Bryant Maddrick
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VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia (WTKR) — The Virginia Parole Board denied parole for convicted murderer James King and will not consider him for eligibility again for another three years, the board confirmed with WTKR News 3 Friday morning.
The board’s decision follows efforts from the murder victim’s sister to prevent King — and other repeat violent criminals in the state — from being eligible for parole under a Virginia law regarding age.
King is currently serving two life sentences for assaulting and murdering Lexie Walters back in 2020 at a Virginia Beach Days Inn. It’s not his first murder conviction: He previously served 20 years in jail for violently murdering a woman in Ohio back in 1986.
Although King was recently sentenced for the Virginia Beach murder back in February, he was being considered for the possibility of parole due to his age.
Under Virginia law, an inmate must be at least 65 years old with 5 years served, or 60 with 10 years served, to be considered annually for “geriatric conditional release.” The current law excludes people convicted of Class 1 felonies, but King was found guilty of Class 2 felonies.
King was denied geriatric conditional release and his case was deferred for three years, which the board says is the maximum amount of time.
On Friday morning, the parole board called Lexie’s sister, Marie Jones, to let her know his parole was denied.
“I was overwhelmed with joy. That’s all I could think of was ‘thank you, Lord,'” said Jones.
Jones is now fighting to change Virginia law with legislation called “Lexie’s Law.” It would make it tougher for repeat criminals to be considered for release and do away with geriatric parole, among other changes.
Jones said a draft of Lexie’s Law should be ready for lawmakers to look at as early as Sept. 10.
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