Oakland mayor's son denied parole
for murder conviction

By Jeff Shuttleworth, Bay City News Service

January 8, 2007

Michael Dellums, the son of Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums, was denied parole today for his second-degree murder conviction for killing a reputed drug dealer in Oakland in 1979, according to a California Board of Prison Terms spokesman.

Board of Prison Terms spokesman Tip Kendel said the panel found that Michael Dellums, 49, is "an unacceptable parole risk" and "a danger to the public's safety if released from prison at this time."

Michael Dellums was convicted of second-degree murder and other charges on Nov. 13, 1979, for shooting and killing 26-year-old Gregory Davis, a reputed drug dealer, at 54th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Oakland on Feb. 27, 1979.

He was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison, but he's been denied parole at numerous parole hearings. He's being held at the California State Prison in Vacaville in Solano County.

Kendel said Dellums will have another parole hearing next year.

Dellums' hearing was held on the same day that his father, Ron Dellums, a former congressman and lobbyist, was publicly sworn in as Oakland's mayor.

According to court records, Dellums was born during divorce proceedings that ended Ron Dellums' first marriage. Dellums was raised by his mother.

According to a letter that Dr. George Ponomareff wrote to a judge on July 25, 1979, "the primary male influence in the home was a Mr. Steve Wilson, who was there approximately from ages 5 to 15."

According to a letter that Dr. David Grubb wrote to a judge on Aug. 9, 1979, Ron Dellums "has not been a major figure in Michael's life."

Grubb said Dellums "began to get into legal trouble at an early age" and was a truant from school.

Grubb said Dellums himself estimated that he committed more than 100 burglaries in the North Oakland area.

Grubb said Dellums also was convicted of malicious mischief, burglary, multiple purse snatchings, armed robbery, petty and grand theft and auto theft.

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