Politics & Government

Orangetown Town Board Petitions State Parole Board to Deny Pearl River Teen's Killers

The Orangetown Town Board unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday night to ask the New York State Parole Board to deny parole to Richard LaBarbara and Robert McCain, who were convicted of murdering 16-year-old Paula Bohovesky in 1980.

The Orangetown Town Board added its voice to the list of petitioners pushing for the New York State Parole Board to deny parole to convicted killers Richard LaBarbara and Robert McCain by unanimously passing a resolution Tuesday night.

LaBarbara and McCain are both serving sentences of 25-years-to-life for the murder of 16-year-old Paula Bohovesky of Pearl River three blocks from her home Oct. 28, 1980. LaBarbara and McCain first became eligible for parole in 2005, but were denied that year, 2007 and 2009. Their cases come up every two years, so LaBarbera will have his hearing in May while McCain's should be in June.

Councilman Tom Diviny read the resolution near the end of Tuesday night's regular town board meeting, laying out the reasons for it, including the brutality of the crime, referencing statements made by former Rockland County Medical Examiner Dr. Frederick Zugibe.

Find out what's happening in Pearl Riverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Dr. Zugibe, the medical examiner, said that itw as the most brutal attack he had seen," Diviny read. "Whereas, we as a town board beliee that those who commit violent sex crimes cannot be trusted not to kill again. Whereas, we as a town board believe that we have a responsibility to protect the innocent from sexual predators.

"Whereas, we as a town board do not believe that either Richard LaBarbera, nor Robert McCain, should be granted parole."

Find out what's happening in Pearl Riverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Rockland County Legislature approved a similar resolution sponsored by John Murphy (R-Pearl River) March 15.

Read more about efforts to keep LaBarbera and McCain in jail here.


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