Parole granted for man convicted in 1991 slaying of gay Texas man
HOUSTON -- The last man still serving time in the 1991 gay-bashing death of a Houston banker has been granted parole, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles announced Monday.
Jon Buice was one of 10 teens and young men arrested in the beating and stabbing death of Paul Broussard, whose killing galvanized the gay community and prompted protests.
Buice and the others, from the Houston suburb of The Woodlands, drove into the city on July 4, 1991, looking for homosexuals to harass, according to authorities.
They spotted Broussard, 27, and two friends walking not far from a gay nightspot. The 10 got into a fight with the three.Broussard's friends escaped.
Buice, then 17, stabbed the man to death. He pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 45 years in prison.
Now 41 years old, Buice has served nearly 24 years of his sentence. Four of the others arrested in the death were also sent to prison while the other five received probation.
"During his last review, the parole panel carefully considered the totality of information available and used their discretionary authority to grant parole to Buice," the parole board said in a statement.
Several issues influenced the parole board panel's decision Friday: Buice has had no major disciplinary cases since his last review; he has completed one or more vocational or academic programs that should help him get a full-time job outside prison; and his age at the time of the crime.
Buice is being held at a prison in Rosharon, about 30 miles south of Houston. It is not yet clear when he will be released.
The board granted Buice parole in 2011, but reversed its decision saying it had received new information not previously submitted for review.
The victim's mother, Nancy Rodriguez, says Buice should serve at least 27 years, representing her son's age when he was killed.
Buice's parole bid has been championed by Houston gay-rights advocate Ray Hill, who had called public attention to Broussard's death and helped send Buice to prison. Hill has previously said Buice is no longer a danger to society.