Man Convicted Of Torturing Girlfriend, Threatening Wife Denied Release — Again

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A man convicted of torturing his girlfriend and later threatening to kill his wife will remain in state prison after the California Board of Parole Hearings denied his request for parole, according to prosecutors.

The board ruled that David Busio Lopez, 52, continues to pose a high risk to public safety following a Jan. 28 parole eligibility hearing, the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office announced.

Lopez was convicted by a jury in 2007 of domestic violence against his then-wife. That conviction followed multiple prior “strike” offenses stemming from a 1994 case in which he repeatedly assaulted another victim. He was sentenced to 35 years to life under California’s three-strikes law.

In the earlier case, a jury convicted Lopez of 24 felony counts for beating the mother of his child over a three-month period. The convictions included assault with weapons, criminal threats, child abuse, kidnapping, forcible sex offenses, and torture. He was initially sentenced to 15 years and four months in prison. After the district attorney appealed, the state Court of Appeal ruled the sentence was improper, and a judge resentenced Lopez on all counts.

Lopez was released on parole in 2005 and married another woman while serving his first sentence. Prosecutors said that within 13 days of his release, he assaulted his new wife and threatened to kill her if she reported the abuse.

Lopez qualified for consideration for parole under California’s “elder parole” law because he is over 50 years old and has served more than 20 years of his sentence. The law allows certain long-term inmates to seek parole, but release is contingent on a finding that the individual does not present an unreasonable risk to the public

In denying parole, the board reviewed psychiatric evaluations, Lopez’s prison disciplinary history, arguments from both prosecutors and defense counsel, and statements from the victim. The panel concluded that Lopez remains a high risk to public safety if released.

Lopez is scheduled to be reconsidered for parole in seven years.