Board Rejects Clemency Application for Barry Beach

HELENA, Mont. -

Montana's parole board has rejected a clemency application from Barry Beach, meaning he will continue serving his prison sentence for a 1979 slaying.

The Montana Board of Pardons and Parole announced Wednesday it was denying Beach's fourth clemency application since 1994.

The Poplar man is serving a 100-year sentence for the beating death of high-school classmate Kim Nees.

He was released for 18 months after a judge ordered a new trial, but the Montana Supreme Court sent him back to prison last year.

The parole board accepts clemency applications if an inmate can prove a substantial change of circumstances has occurred in his case.

Beach argued in his new application that he showed model behavior while free. He also cited a U.S. Supreme Court decision that juvenile offenders can change.