In prison for a 1997 Ceres kidnapping, former Modesto resident Patrick Perry, 39, was denied parole during a Jan. 11 hearing of the State Board of Parole Hearings held at the state prison in Calipatria.

Deputy District Attorney Dina Petrushenko argued for continued incarceration , saying Perry has violated prison rules by possessing alcohol and fighting. He has also refused to participate in any self-help / substance abuse programs. A mental health examination and report prior to the parole hearing found that Perry still posed a high risk for violence if released on parole.

Faced with the above evidence weighing against his release, Perry waived his right to a hearing and agreed to a five-year denial.

On Oct. 14, 1997, Perry and a partner kidnapped and carjacked the manager of a Radio Shack in Ceres as he was locking up the business at the end of the day. While holding the victim at gunpoint, Perry searched the manager's wallet for an ATM card. Perry and his partner then drove the victim to an ATM to retrieve money. After obtaining only $100 from the victim's bank account, Perry suggested to his partner that the manager should be killed. Instead, Perry's partner left the victim in a remote orchard in Stanislaus County. Perry fled to Petaluma with the victim's wallet.

Perry was convicted of kidnapping and carjacking on Feb. 8, 1998. He received a 10-years to-life sentence in the state prison. He also received an enhancement for using a gun during the commission of the crime.