Sacramento Serial Rapist and Burglar Eligible for Early Prison Release

One of Sacramento’s most notorious serial rapists and burglars -dubbed the “Second Story Rapist”- is set to have a parole hearing after serving less than one-third of a court issued sentence. This due to the California legislature passing an "elderly parole" bill allowing a prisoner of 50 years old who has served 20 years of his/her sentence the possibility of parole.

Listen: Sacramento District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert who prosecuted the case and "Gwen" who survived an attack.

Below: Listen to Gwen who survived an attack.

In 2000, the Sacramento District Attorney’s Office identified and prosecuted Paul Eugene Robinson after filing charges on Robinson based upon a John Doe DNA warrant. Without this warrant, Robinson would never have been caught for a crime spree that wreaked havoc upon women across Sacramento for years. After litigating this novel method of charging someone by identifying him by his DNA, the Sacramento District Attorney’s Office prosecuted and convicted Robinson in 2003 for multiple forcible sex crimes.  Several women testified against Robinson describing terrorizing sex acts he committed after breaking into their homes. After his conviction, Robinson was sentenced to 65 yearsin state prison. The case was appealed all the way to the California Supreme Court and the conviction was upheld.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has determined that inmate Paul Eugene Robinson should be considered for early prison release in July 2021. This early release is based upon a variety of laws adopted by our legislature, including elderly parole, which allows violent inmates and sex offenders to be paroled at50 years oldafter serving only 20 years of a sentence no matter how long the sentence.

District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert, who prosecuted Robinson in the trial, said “Our legislature has completely abandoned victims’ rights and their responsibility to protect society. Robinson is one of the most prolific serial rapists in Sacramento history. It is disgraceful to Robinson’s victims and dangerous for public safety that this predator is being considered for early prison release after serving a fraction of his sentence. “