A convicted three-strike offender who spent years terrorizing our community, will remain incarcerated as the CA Board of Parole determined that Lenel Randolph continues to pose a risk to public safety.
Representing the DA’s Office and advocating for the denial at the Parole Suitability Hearing was Deputy DA Matt Rexroad.
Randolph’s extensive criminal history includes violent robberies, attempted murder, and the commercial sexual exploitation of a minor.
October 1985: Randolph entered the Bakersfield residence of an 82-year-old resident to commit a robbery. During the crime, Randolph drew a knife and stabbed the elderly victim numerous times, causing severe injuries. He was subsequently convicted of residential robbery and attempted second-degree murder and sentenced to a 10-year prison term.
March 1994: Randolph and an accomplice targeted a 13-year-old runaway girl in Bakersfield and sex-trafficked the child to support his drug habit, in addition to sexually assaulting her. He was convicted of procuring a minor for prostitution and lewd acts, resulting in an 8-year prison term. Randolph was also later convicted in Kern County for indecent public exposure and domestic battery against his wife.
October 2003: Bakersfield police officers attempted to contact Randolph. He fled on foot, ignored multiple verbal commands to halt, and abruptly assumed a fighting stance against chasing officers. He was found discarding a baggie of solid cocaine base, a glass smoking pipe, and a steak knife with burnt residue. Randolph pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 25 years to life as a Third Strike offender.
The DA’s Office vigorously opposed Randolph's release at the state prison hearing, highlighting his absolute lack of rehabilitation and his refusal to take responsibility for his sex crimes. DA Zimmer commented; “Lenel Randolph has spent his entire adult life cycling through state prison and exploiting the most vulnerable members of our community. My office will continue to attend these hearings in an attempt to ensure that career criminals serve the full measure of their sentences for the protection of our public.”