Police May Have New Charges for Paroled Murderer

A convicted killer out of prison just four months is wanted again by police. Pine Bluff Police say Melvin Jefferson beat his wife and children last week, and is now on the run. Jefferson was sentenced to 40 years for first degree murder in 1988. He was paroled in June after 16 years. A spokesperson for the Post-Prison Transfer Board says offenders are more likely to turn back to their old ways sooner than later, after release. Pine Bluff Police say that could be the case for Melvin Jefferson. Jefferon`s run-ins with the law started a long time ago. "Due to his violent past and the nature of his previous conviction and his violent actions that hes had now we`re taking him seriously as a violent offender," explained Sgt. Bob Rawlinson, Pine Bluff Police Department. His criminal charges date to 1985. By 1987, he had moved on to a kidnapping charge, which was reduced to false imprisonment. The same girl he was accused of kidnapping, he later confessed to killing in 1988. Since he`s been out of prison, police say he had an argument with his wife last week, that turned violent. They say he beat his wife unconscious with a car jack, and proceeded to break a lamp over his step-daughter`s head. "I don`t know what his conduct was while he was in prison, or how he got his parole. All I know is since his parole we`ve got additional charges on him," said Rawlinson. While the parole board does not comment on specific cases, a spokesperson says they look at the information available at the time of parole hearings, then make the best decision. "They`re looking to see if this inmate, when determining parole, can re-integrate into society, whether or not this person has a chance of going back to his family," said Rhonda Sharp, spokesperson for the Post-Prison Transfer Board. And if the board grants parole, they must have felt Jefferson would have no problems. "They will look at the inmate`s institutional record, how well the inmate behaved," said Sharp. A friend of the Jeffersons says she was surprised to hear police were looking for Melvin Jefferson since he seemed to be doing well out of prison. Police say he`s wanted on probably cause for three counts of battery. Anyone with information is asked to call police.