Parole Denied for Convicted Manson Follower Charles 'Tex' Watson

A California review board denied parole Thursday to Charles "Tex" Watson, the self-described right-hand man of Charles Manson and a key figure in the Manson family's 1969 killing spree in the Los Angeles area.

Staff Writer・Editorial

Read Staff's Posts

October 28, 2016

Parole Denied for Convicted Manson Follower Charles 'Tex' Watson — Charles "Tex" Watson was again denied parole. (Photo: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation)

1 min to read

Watson, 70, was initially sentenced to die in San Quentin's gas chamber for his part in the murder of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and six others. In 1973, his sentence was commuted to life in prison after the state Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty was unconstitutional.

The panel's decision, reached late Thursday, marks the 17th time that Watson has been denied parole, according to Luis Patiño, a spokesman for the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. He'll be eligible for parole in five years.

Topics:California agencies the west Parole Boards Patrol

More Patrol

Man in a blue blazer lifting his shirt to reveal a concealed handgun in a waistband holster while standing outdoors.

Safariland Solis Rethinks Concealable Duty

What if Level I retention didn’t require a full duty rig? Safariland’s Solis delivers trusted ALS security in a streamlined OWB platform built for administrative and plainclothes professionals who need protection without the bulk.

Woman kneeling with a Bloodhound in front of a white pickup truck.

Patrol•March 1, 2026

K-9s Play a Critical Role in Finding Missing Persons

Real-world scenarios show that a tracking canine can detect and follow a human track several hours after it was made.

Patrol•by Wayne Parham•February 25, 2026

Garmont Tactical’s LE Boot Lineup

In this video, we get a look at the latest law enforcement boots from Garmont Tactical, both for men and women. Kyle Ferdyn, sales manager, showcases four of the latest boots.

Person in protective CMRN suit and breathing gear.

Patrol•February 18, 2026

Avon Protection Launches EXOSKIN-S2 High-Performance CBRN Protective Suit

With the commercial availability of Avon Protection’s EXOSKIN-S2, users now have increased options for their protective suit requirements across the spectrum of CBRN threat environments.

Sky background with logos for Versatern and Aloft

Patrol•February 18, 2026

Versaterm Acquires Aloft to Unlock a New Era of Drones for Public Safety

Versaterm has acquired Aloft, an FAA-approved Unmanned Service Supplier (USS) that specializes in real-time airspace intelligence and flight authorizations.

Patrol•February 11, 2026

Versaterm Launches Innovation Summit for Public Safety Drone Operations

The two-day DroneSense Innovation Summit by Versaterm will bring together public safety and industry experts to define best practices for scaling drone operations.

Patrol•by Wayne Parham•February 11, 2026

What Makes a Good LE Boot?

Learn what makes a boot good for police officers as POLICE visits with Kyle Ferdyn, of Garmont Tactical, who explains the features of boots and why each is needed in an LE boot.

Patrol•February 4, 2026

Folds of Honor Opens Scholarship Application for Children and Spouses of Fallen or Disabled Service Members and First Responders

The application period for the Folds of Honor scholarship program is now open through the end of March. Scholarships support students from early education through postsecondary studies, easing the financial burden for families who have given so much in service to others.

Patrol•February 4, 2026

Team Wendy Now on GovX: Faster Verification and Discount Access for Eligible Professionals

With GovX verification now integrated directly into the Team Wendy checkout experience, eligible customers can confirm their status in just a few clicks and have the discount applied automatically.

Patrol•January 28, 2026

5.11 Debuts 2026 Footwear & Apparel at SHOT Show

5.11 showcased new apparel and footwear products during SHOT Show 2026, including new color options for the A/T Boa Lite Mid Boot and the Founder’s Jacket.

View All →