Child rapist, killer should not get break on prison sentences


In recent years, the Ohio Parole Board has become much more conservative in releasing violent criminals from prison before their maximum sentence is served. That’s one brand of conservatism we wholly embrace.

That trend should bode ill for two Trumbull County inmates — a child rapist and a murderer — who are scheduled this month to go before the board to argue for an early exit from state correctional institutions.

We add our voice to that of Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins and family members of the victims of John Whisonart, 58, and John L. Lysikowski II, 53, in urging the board to reject the misguided requests for their early freedom.

The abominable nature of their crimes and the destruction wrought upon the lives of family members and friends of the victims would make their early release a miscarriage of justice.

HEINOUS CRIMES DESERVE NO MERCY

Whisonart, formerly of Howland, was sentenced to a maximum 75-year prison term in 1985 for his conviction on rape and gross sexual imposition charges involving his own children. According to a letter written by Watkins to the parole board, Whisonart raped his four children, aged 9, 7, 6 and 5; charges involving a fifth child were dropped.

According to Marcia Tiger, former executive director of Trumbull County Children Services, the children, now in their 30s, “grew up fearful and distrusting, sexualized and hungry for emotional attention.”

As Watkins put it, “To say this offender is a danger to society is an understatement.”

Lysikowski, formerly of Campbell and Weathersfield, also poses a clear and present danger to society. He proved as much when a more lenient parole board granted him release in 2007. He violated the terms of his parole at least a dozen times and upon his reincarceration, he has violated prison rules at least once every year since, according to Watkins.

Clearly, Lysikowski is no poster child for model prisoner of the year.

Reasonable thinking individuals likely scratch their heads to figure out why he was granted freedom in the first place six years ago. After all, he pleaded guilty to the murder in the stabbing death of Randy J. Nicholson of Warren in 1987. The Trumbull County prosecutor says Lysikowski also killed another person, a crime for which he was never convicted. For the Nicholson murder, the convict received a just and appropriate 15-year to life sentence. His errant behavior in committing the crime and since the crime provide a clear-cut argument for his continued life behind bars.

PAROLE BOARD GROWS TOUGHER

Fortunately, advocates for Whisonart’s and Lysikowski’s continued incarceration have strong recent precedent on their side. The overwhelming majority of criminals of their ilk increasingly receive no reprieves. In 2008, for example, 56 percent of those seeking parole from the board were granted release. In 2012, that percentage had shrunk to 15 percent. In May and June of this year, none of the convicts involved in 240 hearings were granted release, according to parole board data.

Some may argue that such rigidity flies in the face of efforts to depopulate the state’s overcrowded prisons and sidesteps compassion by ignoring any measureable rehabilitation by the criminals. The worst of the worst proven threats on public safety and civility, however, deserve little compassion.

Whisonart and Lysikowski personify those threats. As such, the Ohio Parole Board should turn a deaf ear to their upcoming pleas for early release.

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