RALEIGH, NC (WGHP) — The North Carolina Parole Board plans to release another inmate who is serving a life sentence for second-degree murder.

Steven O. Alexander, 68, was sentenced to life plus 40 consecutive years on related charges and two more concurrent stints after his conviction nearly 28 years ago in Guilford County Superior Court.

But Alexander will be released on July 15, 2024 by the Post-Release Supervision and Parole Board under his Mutually agreed parole programfor felons convicted prior to October 1, 1994, when state law prohibited parole.

Alexander is at least the fourth Piedmont Triad inmate to be designated or granted parole under this program in the past six months.

Details of Alexander’s crimes were not easily located, but his conviction on August 25, 1994 was the final prosecution of a 4-year felony streak in at least three counties that included two parole revocations for violating his probation.

Long story

Alexander was first given a suspended sentence in Surry County in December 1990 on one count of indecent liberty with a child, and he was again placed on probation in Stokes County less a year later, on November 18, 1991, for three counts of theft and receiving stolen property, all felonies.

This conviction resulted in the revocation of his probation in Surry County, and he served approximately 15 months for the indecent liberty charges, from November 1991 to January 1993, and remained on probation for the theft charges.

But that 10-year sentence was enforced when his probation was revoked following his Guilford County second-degree murder conviction. That life sentence came with a 40-year consecutive sentence for two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon and conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon.

And there was another 14-year concurrent sentence for another charge of robbery with a dangerous weapon and attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Thus, Alexander was sentenced and/or served four separate prison terms (not including the period of indecent freedom) on this day in August 1994. He was credited with serving 4 years and 4 months of this theft sentence. and 3 years and 9 months on canceled probation.

The program

The state release says MAPP is an “academic and vocational program” that is a three-way agreement between the board, the Division of Prisons and the offender.

To be part of the MAPP program, an inmate must show a desire to improve education and training programs and a process of self-improvement. There is a 3 year period before release which, according to the MAPP website, requires the inmate to:

• Be in medium or minimum detention.
• Not be the subject of any pending detention or legal action that could result in further detention.
• Be violation-free for a period of 90 days before being recommended.
• If convicted under the Fair Sentencing Act, be eligible for a 270-day parole or community service parole.

Alexander was recently housed at Orange Correctional Center in Hillsborough. He was charged with five offenses while in custody, two for having unauthorized funds and one for abuse of telephone/mail, gambling and disobeying an order.

The commission will accept your questions if you call 919-716-3010.