Lake County News | California

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A man serving a state prison sentence for a 1986 Upper Lake murder has died just as he was due to be released on compassionate grounds.

Carl Hampton Wade, 66, died of natural causes at 3:20 a.m. Thursday, May 31, at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, according to Luis Patino, a spokesman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Wade was sentenced to 16 years to life for the shooting death of John Karns.

Wade shot Karns in the chest, then came back to shoot him in the head. He buried Karns' body the next day, then fled to Colorado, where he shot and permanently disabled another man.

Last month, the First Appellate District Court of Appeals ordered that Wade be released to live out the remainder of his life with his sister in Chico, as Lake County News has reported.

The appellate court overturned Lake County Superior Court Judge Andrew Blum's ruling last November that Wade should remain in prison due to concerns about public safety.

Blum also had doubts about the medical evidence presented in the proposal for Wade's release, which included statements by doctors that he had less than six months to live.

The appellate court's unpublished May 17 decision had ordered Blum to release Wade.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff said the matter never made it to the local court calendar for a hearing because Blum reportedly signed Wade's release order last week.

Email Elizabeth Larson at elarson@lakeconews.com .

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Why do the
written by MOUNTAIN MILITIA, June 05, 2012

LIBS always have COMPASSION for the criminal, but the victims often go unheard? liberalism IS a mental disorder; reference to Joan Moss...

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Depends on what?
written by GreyBeard, June 05, 2012

So what if the murderer was bed ridden. His victim was brutally slaughtered and shown no compassion. The six months or so he would have lived out in prison would have been a lot cheaper for us tax payers than what it would have cost us for his care on the outside. By the way, it is already in "black and white." It's called the sentencing guidelines that the courts follow when these animals are put in prison...

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Depends
written by jazz, June 05, 2012

If the sentence were life without parole, jdriver's point would be more valid were a compassionate release granted. Here, this guy was bed ridden and obviously not a threat to anyone given the parole board's recommendation.

If folks want everyone convicted of murder to be put away for life without parole, hanged, gassed etc then get a measure on the ballot to change the law. Until then, these sorts of decisions will be made from time to time. It doesn't happen often.

It's very easy to sit back and say, "never" but the law doesn't work that way. If you all want it to be so black and white, run for office or get a measure on the ballot.

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The sentenance was..
written by jdriver, June 05, 2012

16 yrs to Life. That is how it works. Why is there even an option for compassionate release? People die in prison all the time. I understand the burden of caring for a sick and dying inmate. But who pays when they are released. A loving family member doesn't always have the funds to do it. You would just remove one problem to create many more. I have dealt with many inmates who can act very sick while incarcerated get released for time served, only to commits crimes and return to jail. Keep the criminals in Prison!

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The victim,
written by Old Coot, June 05, 2012

John Karns, was unavailable for comments.

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Okay
written by Greg_Cornish, June 05, 2012

Now I'll vote for a compassionate release. Through him out the front gate. The birds will do the rest.

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