Gerald Wayne (J.B.) Bounds of McMinnville will remain in prison at least two more years for the 1981 murder of Sherman Wright.
Bounds, 64, convicted of first-degree murder nearly 30 years ago, is serving a life sentence at the Southeast Regional Correctional Facility in Pikeville.
State Board of Pardons and Paroles member Yusuf Hakeem voted to deny Bounds petition for parole and not to schedule another hearing for two years on the matter after hearing Bounds case on Oct. 20.
The final decision then rested with the other six members of the board, three of whom voted in agreement with Hakeem this week, insuring that Bounds will spend at least two more years in jail.
After hearing testimony at Bounds' parole hearing on Oct. 20, Hakeem voted that Bounds case be put off for two more years before he is granted another hearing and recommended that he become involved in such cognitive behavior programs as "Thinking for a Change,” “Criminal Thinking" and "Victim Impact" during his remaining time behind bars.
The programs are courses intended to emphasize the role of altering an offenders patterns of thought, and are intended to bring about change in the way he looks at life.
“Something that gives me great pause and great concern is your account of what took place," Hakeem said at the hearing,  "particularly when I compare that to the account that's in the appeals record. To me they're very different. Based on everything I can see and understand at this time, Mr Bounds, I can't vote today to parole you sir."
Bounds will be eligible for another parole hearing in October 2013.