Governor blocks parole for meth-hazed driver convicted of killing two rescue volunteers
Governor Gavin Newsom overruled the parole board and denied early release to Joseph Tidwell, the driver whose drug-induced crash killed two California rescue workers in 2004.
In 2004, a meth- and heroin-impaired driver, Joseph Tidwell, crossed the center line and collided head-on with a San Gorgonio Search and Rescue Team vehicle, killing volunteers Scott Johnston, 29, and Phil Calvert, 58. Tidwell was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to 45 years. After serving 22 years, he applied for release under California’s Elderly Parole Program and was initially approved in June 2026.
Governor Gavin Newsom intervened, overturning the parole board’s decision and citing recent misconduct in prison, past parole violations, and financial wrongdoing. The governor’s letter acknowledged Tidwell’s participation in vocational and educational programs but concluded the negative factors outweighed any progress. The denial means Tidwell must wait until at least 2028 to reapply, a prospect that the victims’ families say is unacceptable.
Why it matters
The ruling highlights tensions over California’s parole reforms and the balance between rehabilitation and public safety.
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