San Clemente Murderer Found Suitable for Parole

 A 54-year-old former Marine who fatally stabbed a fellow serviceman in San Clemente 33 years ago was found suitable for parole, a prosecutor said today.

Ray Garcia Garcia was found suitable for parole in February 2010, but then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger reversed the decision.

Gov. Jerry Brown will get a chance to consider reversing the parole board's decision.

Garcia was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison in February 1981 for the second-degree murder of 22-year-old Eugene Brunelle.

Deputy District Attorney Jim Mendelson argued against paroling Garcia Wednesday, saying he lacked insight into the crime.

“He couldn't explain what caused him to do it. That's the big thing. He couldn't explain why he did the murder,” Mendelson said.

Garcia blamed his actions on alcohol and said he felt bullied at the time, Mendelson said.

Garcia is remorseful and participated in substance abuse programs while imprisoned at Corcoran, Mendelson said.

“He basically turned it around after 2000,'' Mendelson said.

Garcia initially racked up several rule violations in prison, including fighting, twice possessing illegal knives, he said. Garcia was involved in two stabbings but has stayed out of trouble since 2000, the prosecutor added.

Garcia, stationed at Camp Pendleton at the time, bought alcohol for a group of underage Marines at a liquor store in San Clemente on Aug. 2, 1980. While in the store, Garcia into an argument over $10 Brunelle owed him.

Garcia bought the beer and gave it to the underage Marines, then went back to the store and confronted Brunelle. When Brunelle tried to put his arm around Garcia, Garcia tried to stab him but failed. Garcia then lunged at Brunelle and fatally stabbed him in the chest.

-- City News Service