Parole denied for Willis R. Rodis amid strong prosecutor opposition

The Committee on Parole denied parole for Willis Michael Rodis (DOC 739665) on June 24, 2025, after the panel considered testimony from the applicant, statements from the district attorney’s office, and written opposition from law enforcement.

Rodis, convicted on counts involving juvenile victims, told the board he had tried to help other inmates as an inmate counselor and had participated in programming. A prosecutor from the district attorney’s office described the underlying facts in detail and urged the board to deny parole. The prosecutor said the original charges were first-degree sex offenses alleging oral sexual abuse of very young children; those counts were amended to second-degree offenses before sentencing.

Board members emphasized the gravity of the criminal conduct, the ages of the victims and the strong opposition from the DA and law enforcement. One member told Rodis that the plea reduction from first-degree murder was "a very big break" in the criminal process and that the board must weigh public safety and victim impact when acting. The committee recorded a unanimous vote to deny parole and closed the hearing.