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Parole denied for Denair killer
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A Denair man has been denied parole for his role in a fatal stabbing from 1991, according to the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office.

Andrew Lopez, 52, of Denair was found unsuitable for parole on Oct. 25 for the death of James Turnbough.

Turnbough was found on E. Zeering Road in Denair by Stanislaus County Sheriff’s deputies after they received a report of a disturbance. He had sustained 13 stab wounds to his torso and died at an area hospital from his injuries.

Lopez was arrested for the killing and tried and convicted. He was sentenced to 17 years to life in prison.

Lopez had been serving a prison sentence for selling heroin and had recently been paroled at the time of the murder. He was already wanted for a parole violation.

Lopez had a previous conviction as a juvenile for stabbing a man in Hayward in 1978.

The victim’s family, including the victim’s mother, attended the parole hearing and pleaded with the Board to deny parole.

Deputy District Attorney Wendell Emerson appeared at the hearing for the People and argued for Lopez’s continued confinement based on the severity of the underlying crime, the inmate’s numerous disciplinary issues and rules violations committed while in custody, and that Lopez posed a high risk to public safety if released.

The parole board agreed and denied Lopez parole for three years. This was Lopez’s third parole hearing. He had most recently been denied parole in 2013. He will be eligible for another hearing in 2019.