BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The California Board of Parole Hearings has granted the early release to Steven Wade Rogers, 57, who has been in prison since 1998.

Rogers, who the Kern County District Attorney’s Office called a “career criminal,” was found suitable for release from state commission’s multi-member team on May 27, over the opposition of the DA’s Office.

Early in the morning on Nov. 14, 1997, Rogers went on a crime spree across several different Bakersfield neighborhoods.

During his spree, Rogers forcibly burglarized a building on the 900 block of San Carlos Way. The Bakersfield Police Department responded to the break-in and saw Rogers through a window actively loading stolen electronics, cameras and jewelry into a vehicle.

When he realized he was cornered by police, Rogers started the vehicle and “accelerated recklessly out of the garage, striking an adjacent vehicle” before starting a highspeed pursuit with police on the streets near the home.

Rogers eventually collided with several trees and continued to evade police on foot into the nearing neighborhood.

While still fleeing from law enforcement, Rogers burglarized a second home belonging to an elderly couple in the 8000 block of Wimbley Way hours after the initial break-in.

Rogers entered the home while the homeowners slept and stole their wallets, ID cards, keys and their vehicle.

Bakersfield police continued to investigate the break-ins for several days until Rogers was apprehended by law enforcement on Nov. 16, 1997. He was arrested in an alleyway apartment on Buena Vista Street.

When arrested, Rogers admitted his motivation for the burglaries was to secure ” financial profits to maintain an escalating addiction to methamphetamine and heroin.”

Rogers — who Rogers was also a validated gang member — was convicted on two counts of first-degree residential burglary and felony reckless evading of a peace officer on Oct. 28, 1998.

He was sentenced under California’s Three Strikes Law — a law that mandates longer sentences for repeat offenders of serious and violent crimes — sentencing him to 55 years to life in state prison.

Rogers had an “extensive” local criminal record prior to the break-ins, including prior convictions for robbery with a firearm and assault with a deadly weapon in 1989.

His initial minimum eligible parole date was scheduled for April 2036 but under California law, incarcerated persons can be eligible for the Elderly Parole Program after reaching 50 years old and incarcerated for 20 consecutive years.

“Elderly parole expansions are forcing the premature release of hardened, violent career criminals directly back into our neighborhoods,” said District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer. “Inmates who target and terrorize local residents should serve their full sentences for the protection of our community, and our office will continue to fight these early releases.”

While incarcerated, Rogers received about 18 formal Rules Violation Reports, which included a 2005 conviction in Monterey County Superior Court for possessing an inmate-manufactured deadly weapon beneath his mattress. He also had a 2009 conviction in Kings County Superior Court for his involvement in a “sophisticated narcotics smuggling conspiracy” inside state prison walls.

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