Seven more lifers could be released under court ruling

That brings to 27 the total on inmates who could be released.

The state Court of Appeals found that a 1970s state law defined a life sentence as 80 years and that, when good-behavior credits were included, some inmates had completed their sentence. The law was changed a few years later.

The seven inmates identified Saturday were convicted of either murder or rape. Three were originally sentenced to death – Joseph Seaborn, 55, Leroy Richardson, 56, and Allen R. Roberts, 58.

Seaborn was convicted in the 1975 slaying of state Trooper Guy Davis. Seaborn was fleeing after robbing a bank in Williamston.

Roberts attacked and raped a woman as she left work in Durham County in 1974, according to DOC records.

Richardson stabbed Joseph Maxwell Cook in the neck and attacked three others while robbing a store in Scotland County in 1974. Cook died of his injuries.

DOC records identified the other four inmates and their crimes: Barry Holcomb, 57, shot his father in the head in Yadkin County in 1974. Tommy L. Yancey, 55, broke into a woman's house in Alamance County and robbed and raped her in 1976. Benny R. Herndon, 52, and another man broke into a Mecklenburg woman's house and raped and robbed her in 1976. Victor Foust, 63, killed Donald Mayo during a robbery in Wilson County in 1975.

The potential releases have upset some people, partially because most of the inmates would be freed without any post-release supervision.

“The Highway Patrol was very disappointed in the recent state Supreme Court’s ruling. We’re hoping that there will be some type of resolution to this that will stay (and prevent) those individuals from getting released,” Sgt. Jeff Gordon, with the state Highway Patrol, said.

Gov. Bev Perdue has vowed to fight the release of the inmates. Defense attorney Duncan McMillan disagrees with Perdue's stance.

“The law as written should be implemented. I wasn't surprised at the governor's stance. I don't think she will prevail in any attempt to keep these folks in prison,” McMillan said.

Perdue has taken issue with the good-behavior credits.

In 1981, the Legislature passed the Fair Sentencing Act, which offered inmates the chance to shorten their sentences by crediting them with a day for each day of good behavior. It only applied to crimes committed in 1981 or later. Those serving life sentences did not qualify.

Then, in 1983, then-DOC Secretary James Woodward expanded the "day-for-a-day" rule to apply to those convicted before 1981, including those serving life terms.

Perdue said in a statement Thursday that her legal counsel believes the DOC never had the authority to change the rule. But McMillan says he thinks the inmates will be released.

“There comes a point in time when a person is going to simply max out the sentence imposed. When the person maxes out the sentence, he is bound by the law to be released. And I don't see that there is a way around it,” McMillan said.

DOC spokesman Keith Acree said there are no immediate plans to release any of the inmates.

The DOC is working to notify victims of these offenders. Victims who haven't yet been contacted by DOC can call the Office of Victim Services at 1-866-719-0108.