California dentist convicted of killing 3 with anesthesia overdoses is granted parole
By APThursday, July 22, 2010
Killer California dentist granted parole
FOLSOM, Calif. — A Southern California dentist convicted in 1984 of killing three patients has been granted parole.
Tony Protopappas was granted parole Wednesday at a hearing at Folsom State Prison. An appeals court ruled in March that Protopappas should be freed unless prosecutors proved he was still a danger to society.
Protopappas was convicted of second-degree murder in 1984 and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for killing two women and a girl by giving them the wrong dose of anesthesia at his Costa Mesa office.
His attorney, Richard Pfeiffer, appealed a parole denial in 2008 by arguing Protopappas poses no risk to society because he can no longer be a dentist.
Pfeiffer says his client feels remorse for doing sloppy work and had alcohol problems.
