Paroled Murderer Returned to Prison, LIVINGSTON, March 21, 2012 - A paroled murderer has been returned to prison after a sentence entered by Judge Robert Trapp on March 14, 2012. John Allen Queen, 40, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on a charge of Retaliation.
In 1993 Queen was sentenced to 40 years in prison for his part in the 1992 murder of Polk County resident William Parker. On the evening of September 16, 1992 Queen, Michael Paul Elizondo and Randall Lee Hughen went to Parker's residence because Elizondo said that they could get money from the old man, who lived alone with his dog. Elizondo shot Parker in the head with a .22 caliber pistol. It does not appear that Queen or Hughen took part in the shooting, and perhaps did not know Elizondo would kill Parker. However, all three looted the Parker's body after his death and took other property from Parker's house. Parker's body was wrapped in blankets and placed in his van. The body was then hidden, inside Parker's van, deep in the woods off Menarch Chapel Road toward Segno. After secreting the body the defendants returned to Livingston in the victim's truck.
The crime was discovered two days later when Elizondo and Hughen were still driving the truck and were stopped by local law enforcement. Parker's wallet and credit card were still in the truck. Officers then traveled to Parker's house where blood and other evidence of violence were found. Upon further questioning, Hughen and Elizondo admitted to the above facts. Hughen led the officers to the location of the van and Parker's body. Queen was later arrested at his home and confessed to his role in the crime. At the time of the murder Queen was on probation for felony Burglary of a Motor Vehicle.
In October, 1993 Queen and Hughen were sentenced to 40 years in prison while Elizondo was sentenced to a life term. In January, 2011, after serving a little over 18 years, Queen was paroled to his mother's home in Polk County. In the months that followed, two Polk County women complained to police of being harassed by Queen with unwanted attention. Queen was warned to desist by Livingston police officers and by his parole officer. By this time, Queen was employed at a local retail business where he came in contact with a friend of one of the women. Queen told the friend to tell the woman that he would hurt her the next time he saw her because she had gotten him in trouble. This conduct resulted in Queen's arrest in September, 2011 for felony Retaliation and misdemeanor Harassment and he has remained in the Polk County jail since that time. Prison authorities have moved to revoke Queen's parole.
Queen was found guilty of Retaliation by a Polk County jury on January 24, 2012. Testimony at the trial showed that Queen had boasted about his involvement in the murder, even showing several people an old newspaper clipping from the time of the murder that he carried with him. A sentencing hearing was held before Judge Robert Trapp on March 14. At that hearing the court heard evidence of Queen's multiple disciplinary issues while in prison, including assaulting a prison guard and another inmate.
One of Queen's neighbors, her son-in-law and her grandson testified to Queen's helpfulness to them while on parole. Queen testified in his own behalf saying that he wished the murder had never happened and that he believed he could live peacefully in society if given another chance. He denied harassing the women or making any threat, saying instead that he believed they lied about him because he was a paroled murderer.
Queen did admit displaying the newspaper clipping but only because they wouldn't believe me. He could not explain why he wanted people to know about the murder. Queen also admitted to episodes of explosive anger toward his elderly mother but said she would say things to set him off. Queen's mother, who is on a defibrillator, was not required to testify.
At the conclusion of the hearing Judge Trapp pronounced a 20 year prison sentence for the Retaliation and ordered the sentence be served consecutively with any revocation of Queen's parole, meaning that Queen will have to satisfy the 40 year sentence before beginning to serve this 20 year sentence.
First Assistant District Attorney Joe Martin expressed satisfaction with the outcome, saying, AWe took the threats made by John Queen very seriously and believe the decisions of this jury and Judge Trapp will go a long way toward keeping our citizens protected. With regard to Queen's future release, Martin stated, It is hard to know what the parole board might do, but Queen will have to make parole again on the murder charge before starting the 20 year sentence. He could then actually be released after making parole on the Retaliation. The timing of all those things is up to the parole board in accordance with the various statutes and regulations regarding parole. It is possible they could keep him for the full time on both charges - another 42 years. And, it is possible he could be out again sometime in the next 10 years. I do not understand why they released him to begin with, but I really believe John Allen Queen is one of those people we need to keep behind bars permanently.
Michael Paul Elizondo remains in prison on his life sentence. Randall Lee Hughen was paroled in 2005 and remains free despite convictions for misdemeanor Assault in 2007 in Polk County and misdemeanor Cruelty to Animals in 2011 in Chambers County.