MENDOCINO COUNTY DA David Eyster recently dispatched his ace prosecutor, Paul Sequiera, to Mule Creek State Prison for Mark Sprinkle’s parole hearing. Eyster seems to think that Sprinkle is too dangerous to be let out of prison after 16 years on a “child molest” conviction, the facts of which have been exhaustively discussed in this newspaper. Sequiera’s presentation included a brand new accusation; that years ago, when Sprinkle was still being held in the Mendocino County Jail, he had tried to find someone to murder his prosecutor, Beth Norman. Ms. Norman, who is still with the DA’s office, had offered Sprinkle 3-5 if he would plead guilty to the molest charges. Sprinkle, insisting to this day that he’s innocent of the charges, refused to plead guilty and, as it inevitably does, the local justice system proceeded to max Sprinkle out. Big time with a sentence of 45-to-life. Sequiera, incidentally, pulling out all the stops, told the parole board that Norman herself would have attended the hearing but she was afraid for her life! After all these years as a prosecutor she’s suddenly afraid? I think it’s more likely that she still hates the guy on such a visceral, unreasoning level she’s managed to retroactively traumatize herself. Ms. Norman has prosecuted persons far more dangerous than Sprinkle, a non-violent offender. The intervention of the DA’s office at Sprinkle’s parole hearing earlier this month has again resulted in his being denied parole, this time for another five years before he can even apply for another hearing.
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