A Modesto man has been denied parole for the seventh time for his role in an armed robbery of the Assyrian American Club in Turlock.

Jeffrey Paul Sanchez, 48, was seeking release from the Solano State Prison in Vacaville but pulled his request after Stanislaus County Deputy District Attorney Merrill Hoult appeared at the hearing to argue Sanchez still posed a current safety risk to the community and failed to follow through with previous Parole Board recommendations. Sanchez ultimately waived his right to a parole hearing and agreed to a one-year denial.

Sanchez was convicted in 1990 for an armed robbery at the Assyrian American Club in Turlock on Dec. 18, 1988. Armed with guns, Sanchez and several other men confronted the six victims who were cleaning up after a bingo game. After forcing the victims to lie down on the floor, Sanchez became enraged upon learning that the night’s bingo receipts had already been deposited at the bank. Sanchez pushed one of the victims with his rifle and then shot that victim in the middle of his back from only inches away.

Although the shooting victim survived, he has endured hospitalizations, surgeries and ongoing medical issues as a result of Sanchez’s actions.

The suspects got away with only personal items taken from the six victims.

A Stanislaus County jury found Sanchez guilty of attempted murder, second degree burglary, five counts of robbery, one count of attempted robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and various gun enhancements. In 1990, he was sentenced to life plus nine years and eight months in state prison.

Sanchez has been denied parole seven times. On June 2, 2015, Sanchez agreed that he was not ready for parole. At that time, the Board of Parole Hearings recommended that Sanchez remain discipline free, establish a viable parole plan and continue to get self-help before his next parole hearing. Since his last hearing, Sanchez failed to engage in any self-help courses or formulate a viable parole plan as recommended by the Board. Because of these issues, he elected to waive a decision for one more year so he could continue to work on satisfying the Board’s recommendations. The Board also felt Sanchez still currently posed an unreasonable risk to public safety if released. Sanchez will be eligible for another parole hearing in 2017.