In a pivotal move on July 3, the California Board of Parole Hearings nullified its previous decision to grant early parole to Cody Woodsen Klemp, a 68-year-old convicted rapist from Moreno Valley. Facing a staggering 170-year sentence from a 1994 conviction on multiple counts of sexual assault, Klemp will, as it stands, be kept behind bars pending further hearings. According to ABC7, this sudden change occurs after the victim’s poignant testimony and a significant push from legal advocates. Klemp's status had been up for evaluation under the Elderly Parole Program, for which he qualified by age and years served.
The hearing that saw Klemp's parole reversed was a reevaluation called by Governor Gavin Newsom, who ordered a second look at Klemp's release in March. The legal fight was taken up by Riverside County Managing Deputy District Attorney Kamaria Henry, echoing the voice of the survivor, and positioning their stance squarely at the governor's attention. They managed to present compelling enough arguments to sway opinion against Klemp’s early release. The decision is temporary, with Klemp due back for another parole review within 120 days, an event confirmed by one of the victim's statements obtained by ABC7.
In an interview with the victim provided by ABC7, the enduring harm inflicted by Klemp was poignantly described. "It's the equivalent of slicing myself from top to bottom and just pouring bleach, and you have to kind of allow people to see how much you have been harmed," she said. This heartbreaking testimony evidently played a key role in the board's decision to rescind Klemp's parole.
On the flip side, arguments from the District Attorney's Office paint a grim possibility of community harm should Klemp be released. As stated by District Attorney Mike Hestrin, cited by Riverside County District Attorney's Office media release, "He will absolutely rape again. He has been committing rapes since he was eighteen years old. The only time he did not rape was when he was in prison," underscoring the gravity of the threat Klemp allegedly still poses.
