Richard Dean Morris, 56, formerly of Ceres, was found unsuitable for parole during a Feb. 27 hearing of the State Board of Parole Hearings at San Quentin State Prison.
In 1985 Morris was convicted of first-degree murder and was ordered to serve a 25 years-to-life prison sentence. He was also convicted in 1986 of stabbing another inmate causing great bodily injury and is serving a consecutive term of nine-years-to-life for that crime. Morris's brother, Robert, who was also convicted for participating in the same murder, was granted parole in 2016.
This was Morris's second parole hearing. Deputy District Attorney Heather M. Melton appeared and argued against the parole based on Morris's continued dangerousness, deceptive answers given at the hearing, and his incomplete parole plan.
The board agreed and denied parole for three more years.