The California Board of Parole released Jon Thomas Gregorich, 46, on March 24 from Corcoran State Prison after he served 26 years for beating a man to death outside a Visalia bar in 1994.

In the early morning of May 5, 1994, outside the former Shagnasty’s bar, Gregorich and two other men, Leo Sisco and Rocky Rodrigues, beat an 18-year-old man to death after a brief altercation. A friend of the victim said that he was unrecognizable after the beating.

Three Men Convicted in the Homicide

In 1995, Gregorich was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 15 years-to-life in prison. Sisco was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to 15 years-to-life. He received parole in 2015. Rodrigues was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to four years.

Under Senate Bill 118, which was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last year, inmates released on life parole can seek termination of parole requirements with the Division of Adult Parole Operations after 12 months.

This was Gregorich’s fifth parole hearing. A supervising Tulare County deputy district attorney argued against Gregorich’s inmate’s release at last week’s hearing.