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The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles denied petitions from two inmates recently for crimes committed in Lowndes County.

On Aug. 27, the board voted to deny parole to Dondale C. Burke, 48. He is currently housed in the Bibb County Correctional Facility, serving two 20-year terms and two three-year terms for violating sex offender registration (SORNA) laws.

Burke’s current sentences stem back to convictions in June 2000 for first-degree attempted rape, second-degree burglary and second-degree theft of property. He served three years of a ten-year sentence for the crimes before his release. In 2008, Burke was found to have violated sex offender registry laws and convicted of third-degree burglary. 

Burke was found guilty of two more SORNA violations in 2011. On Aug. 27, the board set his next hearing for August 2029.

The board heard 19 parole petitions on Aug. 27, granting three and denying 16. The board also held 10 pardon hearings, granting four and denying six.

On Aug. 20, the board voted to deny parole to Travis Holcombe, 28, who is housed at the Easterling Correctional Center.

Holcombe is serving 20 years for a 2003 murder conviction. Speaking on behalf of his parole were attorney Amardo Pitters, Holcombe’s mother, Linda Gordon and his aunt Elizabeth Howard. Petitioning the board against his parole were Victims of Crime and Leniency (VOCA) representative Wana Davis and Attorney General’s victim services officer (VSO) Sarah Deneve.

The board declined to set Holcombe’s next hearing date.

The board heard 23 parole petitions Aug. 20, granting two and denying 21. The board also heard nine pardon requests, granting five and denying four.

Board minutes are available at www.paroles.alabama.gov/hearing-minutes/. Inmate information is available by visiting www.doc.alabama.gov/inmatesearch.