Inmate Steven Wade Rogers is a three-strikes offender with a criminal history that includes armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and his current offenses: first-degree residential burglary and felony reckless evading of a peace officer.
Now 57 years old, Rogers is serving a 55-years-to-life sentence imposed in 1998. Recently, he became eligible for a parole hearing under California's Elderly Parole Program. If not for the program, Rogers wouldn’t have been eligible for parole until 2036.
His prison record includes approximately 18 Rules Violation Reports, a 2005 conviction for possessing an inmate-manufactured deadly weapon, and a 2009 conviction for participating in a sophisticated prison narcotics smuggling conspiracy. Rogers was also a validated gang member. Despite these factors, the Board of Parole granted parole over the DA's objection. The most recent commitment offenses trace back to 1997 where Rogers forcibly burglarized an inhabited dwelling in Bakersfield. A responding officer observed Rogers actively loading stolen electronics, cameras, and personal jewelry into a vehicle belonging to the primary resident of the home. Rogers then started the vehicle and accelerated recklessly out of the garage, striking a vehicle before initiating a high-speed pursuit. Rogers eventually crashed into several trees and escaped on foot.
Only hours later, Rogers burglarized a secondary family residence belonging to an elderly couple. Rogers entered the home while the victims slept, stealing their personal wallets, identification, keys, and their vehicle.
Following an intensive multi-day investigation, Rogers was apprehended. At the time of his arrest, Rogers admitted his sole motivation was securing financial profits to maintain an escalating addiction to methamphetamine and heroin.
DA Zimmer commented; “Elderly parole expansions are forcing the premature release of hardened, violent career criminals directly back into our neighborhoods. Inmates who target and terrorize local residents should serve their full sentences for the protection of our community, and our office will continue to fight these early releases.”