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| Mr. Zellers in 2015, with some of his friends, when he was in much better health. |
VADOC No. 1036758
Buckingham Correctional Center
Post Office Box 430
Dillwyn, Virginia 23936
Re: Recent Virginia Parole Board ("VPB") Decision
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Dear friends and family:
It truly breaks my heart to have to write you and give you the sad news that I've been denied a parole grant again. That was my eleventh not grant decision from the VPB and I've been eligible for release since July 30, 2005.
I was seen by the VPB Examiner on April 4, 2023 and my family and advocates met with VPB member Mrs. Michelle Dermyer on June 21, 2023.
The following not grant decision was handed down on September 29, 2023, and was certified on October 2, 2023.
I plan on filing an appeal since I do have a new medical issue which I didn't have prior to my advocates meeting with the VPB staff. My pulmonary doctor told me that he wants me to go back on supplemental oxygen. I will be transferred to Deerfield Correctional Center when this happens, probably sometime in January. I requested that I be permitted to stay here at Buckingham Correctional Center until I complete the Resilience Education Course I'm currently enrolled in through the University of Virginia's Darden Business School, one of top five in the country.
If you would like to contact any of the Board members, below are their email addresses*:
Lloyd.banks@vpb.virginia.gov (Vice-chair)
Michelle.dermyer@vpb.virginia.gov
Samuel. boone@vpb.virginia.gov
Thanks to each of you for all you have done and hopefully will continue to do to help me obtain a parole grant. And pray for my aging mother, Judy Zellers. She is really taking my getting another turndown hard.
Respectfully submitted,
Charles
And here is the standard, computer-based response Mr. Zellers received:
Dear Charles Zellers:
The Virginia Parole Board recently reviewed your case for potential release on discretionary parole. As you know, the goal of the Parole Board is to release on parole those eligible offenders deemed suitable for release and whose release will be compatible with the welfare of society and the offender.
The Board, in determining whether you should be released on parole, considered a number of factors, including, but not limited to, whether your release would be compatible with public safety and the mutual interests of society and you; whether your character, conduct, vocational training and other developmental activities during incarceration reflect the probability that you will lead a law-abiding life in the community and live up to all conditions of parole, if released; sentencing information; facts and circumstances of the offense(s) including mitigating and aggravating factors; prior criminal history and information regarding adjustment to previous probation or parole, if any; personal history; institutional adjustment such as your response to available programs; changes in attitude toward self and others; release plans; evaluations; impressions gained when interviewed by the parole examiner; and any other information provided by your attorney, family, victims or other persons.
In accordance with Code Section 53.1-155 and in consideration of the factors listed above and the information available to us, the Virginia Parole Board's decision to "not grant" parole on September 29, 2023 is based primarily on the following reasons:
> The Board concludes that you should serve more of your sentence prior to release on parole.
> Serious nature and circumstances of your offense(s).
> History of violence.
While this may not be the answer you hoped for, please continue your hard work. The Parole Board made every effort to balance your rehabilitation needs with the public safety considerations on behalf of the citizens of Virginia.
If you believe that the Board made errors or that there is new or different information not available to the Board when the case was decided, you may request reconsideration of the decision. Requests for reconsideration must be received by the Board within sixty (60) days of the decision date on forms furnished by the Board to the institution; however, please be advised that the Board will reconsider cases only for specific errors or significant new or different information that was "unavailable" to the Board when the case was decided.
Sincerely,
By direction of the Virginia Parole Board:
Patricia West, chair
Here are some of blog posts which are about, or are written by, Mr. Zellers:
Everyone can be redeemed.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-story-of-the-murderer-who-became-a-monk
The Story of the Murderer Who Became a Monk:
“There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who have no need of repentance.” (Luke 15:7)
“St. Francis of Assisi was fond of reminding people that, “I have been all things unholy. If God can work through me, He can work through anyone."