Public outcry results in Parker County man remaining in prison

PARKER COUNTY, Texas - The Texas Board of Pardons and Parole will not order the release of a man whose infant son died.  That reverses an order from late September.

John Webb plead guilty to recklessly causing bodily injury to a child by omission in 2013. Prosecutors had agreed to the plea bargain on the lesser charge because of difficulty in prosecuting the case.

The Parker County District Attorney said there was an uproar after people learned the 41-year-old would be sent to a halfway house.

“After hearing about the parole board’s decision earlier this month, our community really responded to our call for letters and emails protesting the decision.  We recently sent them letters from our office, the victim’s mother, law enforcement and about 50 letters and emails from members of the public asking parole authorities to keep Mr. Webb in prison for as long as possible in light of the circumstances of the case.  We appreciate the community stepping up to help us do justice in this case and the parole board for their willingness to reconsider their decision,” said Assistant District Attorney Jeff Swain.

Swain said the 20-year plea bargain was supposed to keep Webb in prison until 2030.

His son Christian was just 32 days old when he died. The baby was in his crib the night before his death, but his mother, Angela Ahern, remembers waking up to find him lying in bed beside her bleeding. She called 911.

Ahern told FOX 4 in early October that all the opportunities of life were taken from her son. She felt like there would be no justice for him if Webb was set free after just six years.

Webb will now remain in prison until he is eligible for another parole hearing around this time next year.