CITRUS HEIGHTS, Calif. — A man convicted in the killing of a Citrus Heights man could be out on parole in November.
Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho said Jeffrey Powell was granted an early parole after serving 10 years out of a 16 years to life sentence. Ho called for an en banc review and recission, but the Board of Parole Hearings affirmed the parole grant on April 17, 2024.
Ho said Powell was on parole when he killed Jack Swaim in retaliation for a confrontation between his friend and a member of Swaim's family in 2013. The California Department of Corrections said Powell on Post-Release Community Supervision with Placer County's probation department.
By 2015, Powell was convicted of a second-degree murder and first-degree burglary. He was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison.
"Powell received an early parole consideration hearing and was granted parole after serving only 10 years after his brutal crime, which is a near 40% reduction in his sentence, despite engaging in significant misbehavior, including leadership in the Aryan Brotherhood white supremacist gang," the district attorney's office said in a news release.
CDCR said Powell had 839 days of pre-sentence credit for time served while waiting for sentencing and was eligible for credit opportunities during his time in prison.
Despite the credits, Powell won't be released until he reaches his minimum eligible parole date of November 2024. That date could change due to him earning credits or losing credits in the meantime.
“Releasing an inmate who committed a senseless brutal murder and has shown no progress toward rehabilitation is a danger to public safety,” said Ho. “I join the victim’s family in vehemently opposing the parole decision and warn the public of this violent offender being released early into the community.”
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