PLEASE HELP US PROTEST THE EARLY RELEASE OF THIS VIOLENT CRIMINAL.
Send letters, emails, or faxes protesting the parole of James Richard Brown
Background
In the early morning of June 7, 1993, James Richard Brown and James Lee Clark arrived at a Texaco store in Denton, Texas, and asked the store clerk to call an ambulance for Brown who had suffered a gunshot wound. Subsequent investigation revealed that Brown accidentally shot himself in the leg at point blank range with a shotgun while he and Clark were assaulting Shari Catherine "Cari" Crews, 16 and Jesus Garza, 17, at Clear Creek Bridge, a couple of miles north of Denton. Police recovered both bodies from the creek and determined that Crews had been sexually assaulted by Clark, as verified by DNA evidence, and then killed with a single shotgun wound (a contact wound) to the back of the head. Garza also died from a single shotgun wound, but it was to the left side of his chin or jaw. Powder residue revealed a short muzzle-to-wound distance, but it was not a contact wound. Police also recovered a 12 gauge double barrel shotgun and a .22 caliber rifle from the crime scene.
Further investigation revealed that Brown and Clark, both parolees, stole the shotgun and rifle in car burglaries on June 4, 1993. The stock of the rifle had been shortened and police found the sawed off portion while searching Clark's residence; the stock of the shotgun was cracked. The search of Clark's residence also produced tennis shoes splattered with the blood of Brown, Crews, and Garza. During interrogation, Clark stated that Brown instigated the incident; shot himself while using the shotgun as a bludgeon to strike Garza in the head; and, after suffering the severe gunshot wound to the leg, shot and killed both victims. Brown contended that Clark killed both victims. Brown and Clark were both charged with Capitol Murder. The jury in Clark's case found him guilty of Capitol Murder and was subsequently sentenced to death. Clark is appealing his conviction but has a pending date with the executioner 25 April. The jury found Brown not guilty of capital murder, not guilty of murder and guilty of robbery and was sentenced him to 20 years.
The murders of Miss Crews and Mr. Garza were truly heinous. The losses to their families are immeasurable. Cari Crews had just completed her junior year at Billy Ryan High School in Denton. She was in the top 2% of her class, had just been named a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist, competed in classical piano competitions, and was to be president of her high school's chapter of Amnesty International in the upcoming school year. Jesus Garza had just completed his sophomore year at Billy Ryan High School. He was an A and B student, and played football and baseball.
Brown has expressed no remorse for the murders of Cari Crews and Jesus Garza, justice demands that he serve his complete sentence.
What You Can Do!
1. Visit the TEJ website and send an automated copy of the letter below.
www.texansforequaljustice.org/protest/brown.shtml2. Write letters of protest against the parole of James Richard Brown
Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles c/o Raven Kazen Texas Department Criminal Justice Victims Services P.O. Box 13401 Austin, Texas 78711 Fax # 512/452-0825 E-mail to: victim.svc@tdcj.state.tx.us
Please send copies of your written protests to us so that we can send them to the victims' family -- see contact info below.
SAMPLE LETTER
Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles
c/o Raven Kazen, Director
TDCJ-Victim Services
P.O. Box 13401
Austin, TX 78711
Fax # 512/452-0825
E-mail to: victim.svc@tdcj.state.tx.us
Re: James Richard Brown TDCJ ID: 701163
Dear Board Members,
Please DO NOT grant parole to James Richard Brown. As a concerned citizen, I am writing to protest the projected parole. James Brown was convicted of robbery in connection with the brutal murders of Carri Crews and Jesus Garza. For his crime he only received 20 years in prison.
Carri Crews and Jesus Garza were both teenagers and their lifes were cut short due in part to the actions of James Brown.
Brown was sentenced to 20 years but the families and friends of Carri Crews and Jesus Garza have been given a life sentence of grief. Justice demands that Brown be made to spend his entire sentence behind bars. In the interests of justice, public safety, and to lessen the emotional trauma for the victim's family, please consider giving Brown a five-year set off before any future parole reviews.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
(Your Name)
Texans for Equal Justice is a 501c3 non-profit Crime Victim Advocacy Organization.
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Texans for Equal Justice
P.O. Box 241
Willis, Texas 77378
Tel: (936) 441-4711
Victim Assistance: 1-877-592-1007
Fax: (936) 494-0311
e-mail: tej@texansforequaljustice.org
www.texansforequaljustice.org