LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A man convicted of the October 1989 murder of a Cobb resident has been denied parole.

The Board of Parole Hearings denied parole for Kenneth Warren Perkins, 67, following a hearing on Tuesday, Aug. 30, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff.

Hinchcliff attended the lifer hearing at California State Prison Solano in Vacaville to argue against Perkins’ release.

A jury found Perkins guilty of second-degree murder for the shooting death of Edward Maher, according to a report from the District Attorney's Office.

Lake County Superior Court Judge Robert L. Crone Jr. sentenced Perkins to 17 years to life on April 30, 1990. Perkins originally was prosecuted by then-Deputy District Attorney Richard C. Martin, who is now one of Lake County’s Superior Court judges.

Perkins’ minimum eligible parole date was December 31, 2000, Hinchcliff said.

According to investigation reports, the 40-year-old Maher was temporarily living in a shack in the woods near the intersection of Golf Road and Highway 175 on Cobb.

One of Maher’s sons and some friends were visiting him on Oct. 18, 1989, when Perkins showed up with a shotgun. After they left about 7 p.m. , as they were heading out of the woods toward home, they heard a gunshot.

The next morning Perkins called the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and reported he had accidentally shot Maher after Maher attacked him and grabbed the gun, causing the gun to accidentally discharge.

However, investigators determined from evidence at the scene that Perkins had shot Maher in the neck from a distance of about 6 feet while Maher was sitting down tying or untying his boots.

Edward Maher left behind a wife and two sons. According to Maher’s family, Perkins had recently worked for Edward Maher doing construction and Perkins had recently been fired by Maher for some misconduct, and Perkins was angry at Maher for firing him.

According to reports Perkins had a serious alcohol problem for most of his life, and had been drinking at the time of the shooting. Perkins had several criminal convictions for burglary, theft, battery and DUI prior to the shooting.

Hinchcliff said prison records indicated that Perkins has remained disciplinary free while in prison, but has failed to take classes or get professional help to address personal issues that led to the shooting, and his participation in necessary substance abuse classes has been very sporadic.

Perkins has also continued to claim the shooting was accidental, Hinchcliff said.

At the two and a half hour hearing Tuesday, Hinchcliff asked the Board of Prison Hearings to deny Perkins’ parole on the ground that he still presented an unreasonable risk of danger to the public if
released, and failed to exhibit remorse or accept responsibility for his conduct.

Maher’s widow and one of his sons also attended the hearing and asked the parole commissioners to deny parole, Hinchcliff said.

The Board of Parole Hearings denied parole, agreeing that Perkins still presents an unreasonable risk to the public if released, according to Hinchcliff.

Hinchcliff said the Board of Parole Hearings' denial was for five years. Perkins next parole hearing will be in 2016.

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