News Flash

Sonora, California –– Tuolumne County District Attorney Laura Krieg announced today that Sonora resident  Bryan Lee Beenblossom was denied early release from prison following a 2007 felony conviction. Donald Segerstrom prosecuted the case for the People. Following a jury trial in May 2007, the defendant was found guilty of multiple felonies and sentenced to 21 years in state prison with credit for time served of approximately 1 year. Mr. Beenblossom became eligible for early release in 2016. The District Attorney opposed early release for Mr. Beenblossom due to the seriousness of his offense and his prior criminal history, which shows that he poses an unreasonable danger to the community. The Board denied early release and cited the District Attorney’s letter in support of its decision.

Beginning in 2015, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) initiated the Non-Violent Second Striker program in an effort to address prison overcrowding. Through this program, inmates would be eligible for consideration for early release once they were within 1 year of serving 50% of their sentence, as long as they had not been convicted of a statutorily defined “violent” crime. In September 2016, the Board of Parole Hearings notified the District Attorney that Mr. Beenblossom was being considered for early release. The District Attorney responded with a letter detailing the seriousness of Mr. Beenblossom’s offense and his history of violent conduct, and arguing that Mr. Beenblossom poses a clear and unreasonable risk to public safety in our community. This week, the Board of Parole Hearings denied early release, citing the District Attorney’s letter in its decision.

On October 29, 2006, Mr. Beenblossom led Sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol officers on a high speed chase with multiple collisions through downtown. Just before 10:00 p.m., a Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Deputy saw Mr. Beenblossom’s vehicle, which did not have functioning taillights. The deputy activated his emergency lights and attempted to stop the vehicle, but Mr. Beenblossom continued driving. The deputy activated the siren, but he still refused to stop. As the pursuit continued, Mr. Beenblossom drove exceedingly recklessly, repeatedly swerving over the double-yellow lines, blowing through stop signs and red lights, and reaching speeds of over 70 miles per hour. Early in the chase, Mr. Beenblossom forced a civilian’s vehicle off the road in order to pass it. He then turned into a residential area and continued driving on both sides of the road, through stop signs, at speeds well over the posted limits. More deputies joined the pursuit, assisted by California Highway Patrol officers. As the patrol vehicles attempted to halt the pursuit, a CHP vehicle collided with a deputy’s vehicle at a high speed, forcing it over an embankment where it rolled five times before crashing through a fence. CHP officers were eventually able to bring Mr. Beenblossom to a stop using a PIT maneuver. Mr. Beenblossom continued to resist arrest, and it took several officers to detain him. Two deputies sustained serious cuts to their hands during the struggle. All told, Mr. Beenblossom led officers on a high speed chase for approximately 18 miles in a loop around business and residential areas, causing major damage to both people and property, all while he was out on parole for a previous offense.

Following a jury trial, the defendant was found guilty of multiple counts, including felony assault on a police officer, misdemeanor assault on a police officer, felony evasion using a motor vehicle, misdemeanor resisting a lawful arrest, and misdemeanor driving on a suspended license from a prior DUI conviction. He had several prior convictions, including first degree burglary, unlawful possession of a firearm, misdemeanor assault, misdemeanor obstructing an officer, and misdemeanor battery on a peace officer. Between 1983 and 2007, Mr. Beenblossom had been granted probation or parole 14 times, and he violated the terms of supervision at least 18 times. After taking into consideration his prior convictions, the court sentenced Mr. Beenblossom to a total prison term of 21 years.

The District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Board of Parole Hearings for considering its opposition to Mr. Beenblossom’s early release. The letter opposing release was authored by Deputy District Attorney Sarah Brooks.