YOUR AD HERE »

Roberson receives conduct credits, heads to state prison

Adam Jensen
ajensen@tahoedailytribune.com

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – El Dorado County prosecutors dropped their opposition this week to awarding convicted murderer Ulysses Roberson credit for good behavior while in county jail.

During a hearing in South Lake Tahoe on Thursday morning, Superior Court Judge Suzanne Kingsbury granted Roberson credit for 1,147 days of time served in county jail and 572 days of good conduct and work credit.

Roberson was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison on Jan. 6 for the second-degree murder of his 4-year-old son, Alexander “Salaam” Olive, in a Tahoe Keys home around late December 1985.



Good conduct credits shave time off inmates’ sentences and are used to encourage compliance with jail rules.

Prosecutors initially signaled they would challenge the number of conduct credits awarded to Roberson because of more than 50 disciplinary actions taken against Roberson by jail staff.



Because of the disciplinary actions, Deputy District Attorney Tricia Kelliher argued in court documents filed earlier this month that Roberson should not be treated the same as an inmate who follows the rules.

But prosecutors dropped opposition to awarding the conduct credits on Tuesday.

California law surrounding how conduct credits should be awarded to Roberson is inconsistent and prevented prosecutors from “aggressively” pursuing such a denial, said Assistant District Attorney Hans Uthe outside Thursday’s hearing.

The credits awarded to Roberson will shorten the amount of time he will serve in state prison before receiving a parole hearing. Without the credits, Roberson would be eligible for parole after seven years.

Exactly when Roberson will be eligible for parole will be determined by state prison staff, Uthe said. El Dorado county prosecutors have vowed to prevent the convicted child killer’s release.

“It’s critical to recognize that just because he is eligible does not mean he will be paroled,” Uthe said outside Thursday’s hearing.

Prosecutors will appear at future Roberson parole hearings and have already begun to prepare for those hearings, Uthe said.

At the end of Thursday’s hearing, Roberson asked to address the court regarding statements he didn’t make at a sentencing hearing earlier this month because he was too “emotional.”

Instead, he got a curt send off to state prison from Kingsbury.

“We’re done with that. I’m sorry,” Kingsbury responded.

Roberson then asked if he could address the court regarding his personal property.

“Nope,” Kingsbury said as she turned and retired to judges’ chambers.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around the Lake Tahoe Basin and beyond make the Tahoe Tribune's work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news.