Lansing, MI — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed an appeal in Ingham County Circuit Court, seeking to reverse a decision by the Michigan Parole Board to grant parole to a convicted rapist, William Lamont Bonds. Bonds, 56, is currently incarcerated at the Carson City Correctional Facility and is scheduled for release on parole on February 20, 2025.
Bonds was convicted in 1993 of sexually assaulting two women in separate incidents that occurred in 1992. In the first case, Bonds raped a victim at gunpoint, and in the second, he broke into a woman’s home and sexually assaulted her. For the first crime, he was sentenced to 30 to 45 years in prison for First-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, as well as additional charges of Receiving and Concealing Stolen Property and Breaking and Entering an Occupied Building. He was sentenced to another 25 to 45 years for the second crime, to which he pled guilty in 1994.
Despite his history of violent offenses, Bonds was granted a 24-month parole term by the Michigan Parole Board on November 14, 2024. The decision has sparked outrage, particularly from one of his victims, who contacted the Department of Attorney General to request action to prevent his release. The victim’s plea was one of the driving factors behind the appeal filed by Nessel’s office.
In a statement issued by her office, Attorney General Nessel expressed strong criticism of the Parole Board’s decision. She called the grant of parole “both puzzling and dangerous,” arguing that Bonds has not demonstrated sufficient rehabilitation to be considered a suitable candidate for release. Nessel further asserted that the Parole Board’s decision was a “clear abuse of discretion.”
“This individual has shown a pattern of violent behavior and remains a danger to society,” Nessel said in the release. “Parole should not be granted to someone who poses such a significant risk to public safety.”
The appeal now moves to the Ingham County Circuit Court, where it will be reviewed by a judge. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how future parole decisions are handled in Michigan, especially for individuals convicted of serious violent crimes.
The case has drawn attention from both local and state officials, as well as advocacy groups, who argue that the Parole Board’s decision in this instance may undermine public confidence in the criminal justice system’s ability to protect victims of violent crime. As the legal process continues, many will be closely watching the proceedings to determine whether Bonds’ parole will be overturned.
