John Willie Windham: 25-life, but reduced to 15-life after appeal
Barry Dewayne Woods: 25-life, but has to serve a 17 year sentence for burglary first
Jerry Darnell Bubba Barkus (acquitted)
Eugene Junior Woods (mistrial – retried?)
Craig Chmelik,17, was shot multiple times while in his car after witnessing 4 men removing their ski masks after they had come out of a home invasion. He and James McMahon, his friend, would have been able to identify them. Barry Woods was the actual shooter, but all 4 were charged, since they were all there and participated in the crime. Which makes it felony murder. They are all equally responsible. Which means that they are eligible to be in prison for the rest of their lives. I know that John Windham (after an appeal) received 15 – life, which means that the parole board can give him parole but they do not have to. I know his wife thinks that his parole has been denied for no valid reason, however, she forgets that they do not have to ever approve it. Has she forgotten about Charles Manson and his “family”? They have been eligible for parole, but have been denied every time and probably (and should be) will be in for life.
The crime according to the appeal:
Windham and Barry Dewayne Woods (“Woods”) wereconvicted after trial by jury of murder in the first degree,attempted murder, and two counts of assault with a firearm.The jury also found that Woods personally used a firearm inthe commission of the charged offenses and separately foundthat a principal in the offenses charged against Windham wasarmed with a firearm.During the relevant period, Susan Allen (“Allen”) and hersister, Trudy Johnson (“Johnson”), lived together in an apart-ment on LaSandia Way in Sacramento. Mayse Walker(“Walker”) was a friend of Allen’s son. Approximately twoweeks before Christmas Day in 1989, Walker brought fourautomobile tires to Allen’s apartment. He asked her if hecould store them in her apartment. Allen agreed.On or about December 18, 1989, Walker shot Jerry Barkus(“Barkus”) in the foot. Eugene Woods and Windham werewith Barkus when he was shot.Herbert James (“James”), Allen’s neighbor, testified thatlate in the evening, on December 26, 1989 he observed a manin a red ski mask beat up a neighbor named Magoo. Severalmen were watching. The man in the red ski mask, whomJames subsequently identified as co-defendant Woods, had alarge pistol. After the beating, sometime between 11:00 p.m.and 12:00 p.m., four of the men proceeded to Allen’s apart-ment. Woods kicked open the front door. He and the othersentered the apartment. Windham remained outside, approxi-mately 500 feet from the apartment.Once inside, the intruders demanded to know Walker’swhereabouts. During the intrusion, Johnson was shot in thefoot. Allen was forced to lie on the floor with a gun held toher head. Upon their departure, the assailants took two ofWalker’s tires from Johnson’s bedroom. After the men left,Allen called the police.James testified that he followed the men as they left Allen’sapartment to a building at 86 Caselli Circle. He observed themen removing their masks. He recognized Windham, Woods,Barkus, and Eugene Woods.During the assault on Allen and Johnson, James McMahonand Craig Chmelik (“Chmelik”) were visiting JamesMcMahon’s brother, Michael McMahon, at his apartment at92 Caselli Circle. They observed four or five men whoappeared to be carrying gold-rimmed tires. The men carryingthe tires yelled at James McMahon. He responded by raisinghis hands to indicate his lack of involvement in what was hap-pening. Michael McMahon told his brother to leave. Heassumed James McMahon would leave with Chmelik, whowas already in his Mustang automobile.James McMahon got into Chmelik’s Mustang. At thatpoint, four or five men emerged from the side of a building.As Chmelik put the Mustang in motion, James McMahon sawWoods “whip” out a “great big handgun.” Woods fired hisweapon six times. Two shots hit Chmelik in the chest. Theywere fatal. Two of the shots hit James McMahon’s leg.Windham and Woods went to the home of Eugenia Adams(“Adams”) between 1:15 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. on December 27,1989. Woods secreted a .44 magnum revolver under Adams’srefrigerator. Windham and Woods dropped bullet shells intothe toilet in Adams’s apartment. Police officers seized therevolver later that day. It was the firearm used in committingthe crimes against Chmelik and James McMahon.
Movies/Documentaries
Prison Wives: John & TJ Windham
