WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Victim Looks To Change Law Allowing Early Release Of Prisoners

Victim Looks To Change Law Allowing Early Release Of Prisoners

(CHARLESTOWN, Ind.) -- A woman is seeking to change a state law that allows twice-convicted prisoners to be released early, speaking out about the night she was held up by a man later convicted of murder in the 2000 slayings of a woman and her two children.

Charles Boney was convicted of robbing Donna Ellis at gunpoint in 1992. A jury earlier this year found him guilty of murder and conspiracy in the slayings of the family of former state trooper David Camm, who was also convicted in the deaths.

Ennis is asking state legislators to pass a law that would prevent criminal sentences from being reduced after a second conviction.

Boney had been convicted of armed robbery before robbing Ennis. He served time for holding up Ennis but was released two years early. Less than four months after getting out of prison, prosecutors say Boney was involved in the Camm murders.

Ennis wrote to the court before Boney's 2000 release, saying she didn't believe he should get out early. Ennis now says had she done more or the law been different, Boney may not have been involved in the Camm killings.

Pat Renn, who represented Boney in his two-week trial in January, said he understands Ennis' feelings as a victim but said it would be poor public policy to prevent early releases for those convicted more than once.

"It doesn't give any incentive to change behavior," Renn said.

However, Ennis said if a convict breaks the law and is jailed again, he has made a choice not to change.

Camm was convicted in 2002 of murdering his wife, Kimberly, 35, along his children, Jill, 5, Bradley, 7, in the garage of their home in the southern Indiana town of Georgetown in September 2000.

The Indiana Court of Appeals threw out the conviction.

Camm was found guilty again in March and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. In a separate trial, Boney was sentenced to 225 years in prison.

Both are appealing their convictions.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)