Parole Hearing Slated in Rapid Valley Manslaughter Case

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A man serving a life sentence for the 1994 killing of his pregnant girlfriend is slated to have his first parole hearing on Tuesday.

Joaquin Jack Ramos pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter for the 1994 fatal shooting of Debbie Martines in Rapid Valley.

The Rapid City Journal reports that former Gov. Mike Rounds, in his final term in 2010, commuted Ramos' sentence to 150 years, making Ramos eligible for parole beginning this month.

However, state corrections officials had not reached the victim's family, and so the recommendation was made without input from those who felt Ramos should remain in prison and serve out his life sentence behind bars.

State law prohibits the governor from reversing his clemency ruling, so instead he has recommended parole be denied for Ramos.

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