The juvenile killer of a Niles police officer in 1982 has had his parole hearing moved up because of a new state law that is giving juvenile murderers more chances at freedom.
Fred E. Joseph Jr., convicted in 1983 and sentenced to 30 years to life in the slaying of Niles patrolman John A. Utlak, will face a parole hearing this September.
Authorities had originally set a 2022 date for a parole hearing, after Joseph’s bid for parole in 2012 was rebuffed. But a new law approved by the Legislature during a 2020 lame duck session and signed by Gov. Mike DeWine on Jan. 3 this year, states all juvenile offenders must have a chance at parole.
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Staff file photo / R. Michael Semple
Fred E. Joseph Jr. is led by Trumbull County sheriff deputies back to jail after one of the court hearings at the Trumbull County courthouse. Joseph, having been sentenced to 30 years to life in the slaying of Niles officer John A. Utlak in 1982, will have a parole hearing in September.
The juvenile killer of a Niles police officer in 1982 has had his parole hearing moved up because of a new state law that is giving juvenile murderers more chances at freedom.
Fred E. Joseph Jr., convicted in 1983 and sentenced to 30 years to life in the slaying of Niles patrolman John A. Utlak, will face a parole hearing this September.