State suspends decision to release convicted murderer Brian Britton on parole
POUGHKEEEPSIE - The state Board of Parole has temporarily suspended its decision to release convicted murderer Brian Britton on parole.
Britton has served 33 years in state prison for the murder of his father Dennis, mother Marlene and brother Jason, and the attempted murder of his sister Sherry, who was 18 at the time, in their town of Poughkeepsie home on March 22, 1989. He is currently in Otisville Correctional Facility in Orange County.
Britton, who was 16 when he committed the crimes, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after he was convicted of murder and attempted murder.
He had been scheduled to be released as soon as this coming Monday after being granted parole earlier this year.
But the Dutchess County District Attorney's office had asked the parole board to reopen the hearing, and the board has agreed to the request.
Matthew Weishaupt, Dutchess County's chief assistant district attorney, said in making that request that there is a large volume of material on various social media sites that demonstrates that Britton has not been substantially rehabilitated, and that would support a decision to rescind his parole.
He had submitted some of that material with his letter to Darryl C. Towns, chairman of the parole board, requesting to reopen the hearing.
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Weishaupt said they included statements attributed to Britton directed at his sister saying, "You should've played nice," that she is "complicit in the cycle of hurt" because she will not forgive him, and that she participated in part of the crimes.
"We are confident after serving Mr. Britton with the evidence and after a full and thorough review is conducted his parole will be denied," Weishaupt said Friday. "The evidence submitted demonstrates that Mr. Britton remains a danger to the only surviving victim and his release would be incompatible with the welfare of society."
A spokesman for the state Department of Correction and Community Supervision said the parole board will present the new evidence to Britton, conduct an official review and determine the next step.
Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record, Poughkeepsie Journal and The Journal News/lohud. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com or on Twitter @mikerandall845.
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Brian Britton will not be released on parole Monday
