California Gov. Gavin Newsom Declines to Block Parole for Charles Manson Follower Leslie Van Houten, Paving the Way for Her Release
California Governor Gavin Newsom made an announcement on Friday stating that he will not seek the state Supreme Court’s intervention to block the parole of Leslie Van Houten, a follower of infamous cult leader Charles Manson. After serving 53 years in prison for her involvement in two notorious murders, Van Houten may soon be released.
This decision marks a significant shift in Newsom’s stance on Van Houten’s parole. The governor’s office had previously blocked her release on three separate occasions, but this time their efforts were overturned by an appeals court. The statement released by Newsom’s office acknowledged that an appeal to the state Supreme Court was unlikely to succeed, expressing disappointment over the outcome.
“The victims’ families still feel the impact of these brutal killings, more than 50 years after the Manson cult committed them,” the statement from Newsom’s office acknowledged.
Now in her 70s, Van Houten has been serving a life sentence for her role in aiding Manson and his followers in the 1969 murders of Leno LaBianca, a grocer from Los Angeles, and his wife, Rosemary. If the parole board reviews her record and completes the necessary paperwork, Van Houten could be released from the California Institution for Women in Corona within the next two weeks, according to her attorney Nancy Tetreault.
Since 2016, Van Houten has been recommended for parole five times, yet her release has been consistently rejected by both Newsom and former Governor Jerry Brown. However, in May, a state appeals court ruled in favor of Van Houten’s release, citing her “extraordinary rehabilitative efforts, insight, remorse, realistic parole plans, support from family and friends,” and positive behavior reports during her time in prison.
Tetreault expressed her client’s elation at the ruling, stating, “She’s thrilled and she’s overwhelmed.” Tetreault further emphasized that Van Houten is not the same person she was when she participated in the murders and is grateful that others are recognizing her transformation.
Once released, Van Houten will spend approximately a year in a halfway house, where she will learn essential life skills such as grocery shopping and managing a debit card, according to Tetreault. After spending over five decades in prison, Van Houten will need time to adjust to the modern technological advances that have occurred during her incarceration.
The decision to allow Van Houten’s parole has sparked debate and discussion about the limits of rehabilitation and the potential risks associated with releasing individuals who have been convicted of heinous crimes. While some support the notion of giving Van Houten a chance at rehabilitation and reintegration into society, others maintain that the gravity of her crimes should permanently prevent her release.