Victims group seeks to halt parole

8/28/2012

A victims advocate group is encouraging the public to ask the Ohio Parole Board to keep a Fort Wayne, Ind. man behind bars for the 1980 slaying of a Van Wert, Ohio, man.

Jimmie L. Smith, 55, is scheduled to appear before the parole board Sept. 11. He is in Allen Correctional Institution in Lima, Ohio, for the Feb. 26, 1980, murder of Marlin Lynn "Stub" Mollenkopf in Van Wert.

Mr. Mollenkopf was plowing his driveway when he noticed strange activity at his parents' house across the street.

They were out of town, so he went to investigate. Mr. Mollen- kopf walked in on three burglars, including Smith, who beat him in the head, dragged him to the garage, and shot him eight times in the head.

Bret Vinocur, president of Block Parole Inc., said Smith was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison, and his group wants Smith to spend his life in prison.

Mr. Vinocur said anyone interested in the case can go to the Web site blockparole.com, to send an email to the parole board regarding Smith's parole.