Petition to deny parole for convicted killer of a toddler.

[WilNJ]

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/jus ... -ryan.html

On January 11, 1997, fourteen month old Ryan Hacke was violently killed when struck in the eye by a stray bullet. While awaiting trial on felony charges in connection with the severe beating and rape of a 54-year old woman, Vaughn Mathis fired 9 shots from a semi-automatic handgun into a crowded gas station in an attempt kill another person and, in the process, murdered baby Ryan.

After being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and related charges, he was sentenced to six and a half to thirteen years in prison. These charges were to run consecutively with the felony convictions from the rape trial. After serving only a portion of his sentence, this life-long criminal is now eligible for parole and release back into society.

Since the age of 16, this constant criminal recidivist had been convicted of crimes in eight of the nine years prior to his current incarceration. Charges include drug trafficking, assault, reckless endangerment, terroristic threats, unlawful restraint and criminal mischief.

He has taken the life of an innocent child and permanently altered the lives of each heart-broken member of Ryan's surviving family. We feel that the only remaining justice would be to deny parole and have him serve the full measure of his legally imposed sentence.

If the Beamters feel this is inappropriate, please let me know.

[Mike W.]

If they think it's inappropriate?

As to the quoted story, it's always nice to see part of the story.

[wkohler]

I think The Recidivists would be a great name for a band.

[WilNJ]

As to the quoted story, it's always nice to see part of the story.

Granted, I'm a little biased because the boy's father is one of my counterparts.

The story was fairly high profile in that community at the time. If you're interested, the other side of the story might be available.

[Cactus]

How in the hell do you get less time for killing an innocent bystander than you do for killing the person you set out to kill? (manslaughter vs 1st degree murder) In my ideal world, you get infinite prison time for missing the person you intend to kill and getting somebody else instead.


It's a sick world we live in where gross incompetence is less of a crime than murder.

[WilNJ]

How in the hell do you get less time for killing an innocent bystander than you do for killing the person you set out to kill? (manslaughter vs 1st degree murder) In my ideal world, you get infinite prison time for missing the person you intend to kill and getting somebody else instead.


It's a sick world we live in where gross incompetence is less of a crime than murder.

This comment may likely end up in TP, but this emblematic of a problem in our laws where the burden on the justice system is so great from non-violent offenders, that we have to be pragmatic in our sentencing of violent criminals due to limited resources.

[Blue Shadow]

CA three strikes law kinda keeps his kind incarcerated.

[bwenham]

I think the DA should hear it for this. What no additional gun charges? This guy was a repeat felon, and in NJ of all places. No excuse for that short a sentence here.

[WilNJ]

I think the DA should hear it for this. What no additional gun charges? This guy was a repeat felon, and in NJ of all places. No excuse for that short a sentence here.

Actually it was a suburb of Pittsburgh and according to one article I read, there were two points that address your comment.

The first is that the DAs office seemed to have their sights set on first degree murder and missed.

The second was that apparently the ADA that tried the case burst out with an 'I quit' as she left the courthouse.

[desmofan]

How can someone be eligible for parole after being convicted of rape and manslaughter after only 16 years (at most). Ridiculous.

[leadphut]