SCHULTZ UP FOR PAROLE INTERVIEW
Monday, July 25th, 2005 -- 11:57 AM
A man convicted in one of the more heinous crimes in Clark County history will soon be up for parole.Sometime between July 4th and July 7th, 1994, investigators believe Ronnie Schultz smothered his wife Jodene to death, put her body in a cargo chest in the back of their pick-up truck and left it in a wooded area in the Town of Weston. Originally charged with 1st-degree Intentional Homicide, Schultz signed-off on a plea deal convicting him of 1st-degree Reckless Homicide and Hiding a Corpse. Schultz was sentenced by then Clark County Circuit Court Judge Michael Brennan to 40-years in prison.
The case occurred before ?Truth in Sentencing? went into place, meaning Schultz is eligible for parole after 25-percent of his sentence is served. His first interview will be held sometime this fall.
Department of Corrections spokesperson John Dipko explains that ? just because he?ll have a hearing ? Schultz isn't guaranteed an early release.
"Not at all. An offender can be deferred 12-month, 24-months. It really depends," Dipko says, explaining a "defer" is the period of time until the inmate will be eligible for another parole interview.
Dipko says there are many factors Parole Commission members take into account when making decisions on who?s released early, and who stays behind bars.
"They can look at their previous convictions, the amount of time they've served, input from witnesses, victims and other stakeholders and their records while incarcerated," Dipko says.
If Schultz is never granted parole, he will be released from prison in July of 2024. He?ll be 67-years-old.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.