Commissioners

The Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners is created through the authority of the Nevada Revised Statutes, NRS 213.108. The Board consists of a Chairman and six Commissioners, appointed by the Governor for a term of four (4) years. Reappointment is possible.

The Chairman is the executive officer of the Board, administers its activities and services, and is responsible for its management.

Chairman DeRicco:

Christopher P. DeRicco was appointed as a Parole Board Commissioner by Governor Brian Sandoval in July 2017.  He served as a Commissioner on the Board until July 2018, when he was appointed as the Chairman.  Prior to his appointment, Chairman DeRicco served as a Senior United States Probation Officer for the United States District Court, District of Nevada, for 21 years.  Prior to that, he was employed by the State of Nevada as a Parole and Probation Officer with the Division of Parole and Probation.  Throughout the years, Chairman DeRicco also served as a past Vice-President for the Federal Probation and Pretrial Services Officers Association, and he was Chairman of the College of Criminal Justice and Information Security at the University of Phoenix.  Chairman DeRicco holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice, and a Master of Arts Degree in Organizational Management.  Chairman DeRicco is a lifelong resident of the State of Nevada. Chairman DeRicco’s term expires on June 30, 2025.  

Commissioner Christiansen:

Eric Christiansen was appointed as a Parole Board Commissioner by Governor Brian Sandoval in July 2018.  Prior to his appointment, he served as a United States Probation Officer for the United States District Court, District of Nevada, for 21 years.  Prior to that, he was employed as a Nevada Parole and Probation officer and was also a police officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.  Commissioner Christiansen earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Washington State University.  In 1986, he relocated to Nevada and has been a resident of Nevada a since that time.  Commissioner Christiansen’s term expires on June 30, 2027.

Commissioner Baker:

Mary K. Baker was appointed as Parole Board Commissioner by Governor Steve Sisolak in October 2019. Prior to this she was employed by the Reno Municipal Court as the court program manager for Specialty Courts. Mary K. Baker was also appointed as a Parole Board Commissioner by Governor Jim Gibbons in January 2008. Commissioner Baker has over 42 years’ experience in the Criminal Justice System, working in law enforcement and community corrections. Commissioner Baker managed the United States Pretrial Services Office in Reno, for the U.S. District Court, prior to this appointment. She served as the District’s Program Development Coordinator, as well as the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Specialist. While employed by the Federal Court, Commissioner Baker assisted in the development of the National Standards for Investigation, report writing and supervision of criminal defendants. She served as faculty for the Federal Judicial Center and the training branch of the Federal Judiciary. Prior to joining the Federal Judiciary, Commissioner Baker worked as a Juvenile Probation Officer for Carson City and as a Victim/Witness Coordinator for Clark County Juvenile Court. Commissioner Baker holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Services and Corrections, and Criminal Justice, as well as a Certificate of Public Management from the University of Nevada, Reno. She is a third-generation Nevadan and has been a lifelong resident of the State. Commissioner Baker’s term expires on June 30, 2025.

Commissioner Bailey:

Lamicia Bailey was appointed as a Parole Board Commissioner by Governor Steve Sisolak in October 2020.  Prior to her appointment, she was employed as a Correctional Caseworker with the Nevada Department of Corrections.  Commissioner Bailey has also been employed as a reentry specialist with the Division of Parole and Probation.  Commissioner Bailey served in the United States Air Force for over 20 years, where she last served as the Director of Human Resources for Nellis Air Force Base, after serving as a Law Enforcement Officer.  Commissioner Bailey holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Science, with a minor in Business Management from Campbell University.  She also holds a Master of Arts in Human Relations form the University of Oklahoma.  Commissioner Bailey has been a resident of Nevada since 2012. Commissioner Bailey's appointment expires on June 30, 2028. 

Commissioner Weisenthal:

Scott Weisenthal was appointed as a Parole Board Commissioner by Governor Steve Sisolak in February 2021. Commissioner Weisenthal has approximately 33 years of experience working within the criminal justice system, with approximately 23 of those years working within the Nevada Department of Corrections. He began his career in the prison system in 1988, where he was first employed as a Correctional Officer at the Nevada State Prison. He worked his way up to a Correctional Casework Specialist, where he later became a subject matter expert for Intake and Initial Classification, Sentence Structure and Credits, and was involved in training staff on policies and procedures. In addition, Commissioner Weisenthal was employed by the Board of Parole Commissioners for a period of four years beginning in 2008, where he served as a Hearings Examiner. Commissioner Weisenthal retired from state service in 2015, with approximately 27 years of service to this state. Following his retirement, he worked as a contracted Hearing Representive for the Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners for approximately six years. Commissioner Weisenthal has always been involved with the community. He served on the Carson City Little League Board of Supervisors and the Carson City In-Line Hockey League Board of Supervisors (Sierra In-Line Hockey League). He has also coached youth sports such as, baseball, soccer, in-line hockey and basketball. He was a Cub Scout Den leader and a Cub Scout Cub Master for Douglas County. He also co-founded the Carson City Jewish Group in 1990, and he is a certified CPR Instructor. Commissioner Weisenthal has been a Northern Nevada resident since 1981. Commissioner Weisenthal’s term expires on June 30, 2025.

Commissioner Schmitt:

Sandy Schmitt was appointed as a Parole Board Commissioner by Governor Joe Lombardo in July 2023. Commissioner Schmitt has an extensive background working in law enforcement, mental health services, and investigations. Working in Parole and Probation for nearly 30 years, first as a Nevada Parole and Probation Officer for seven years and subsequently as a United States Probation Officer, for the United States District Court, District of Nevada, Las Vegas, for 22 years. Most recently, Commissioner Schmitt was employed with the Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services as a Training Officer and prior to that she was a Mortgage Lending Investigator with the Nevada Division of Mortgage Lending. Commissioner Schmitt holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In 1977, she and her family relocated to Nevada and have been residents of Las Vegas ever since. Commissioner Schmitt’s term expires June 30, 2027.

Commissioner Mellinger:

Kelly Mellinger was appointed as a Parole Board Commissioner by Governor Joe Lombardo in July 2024. Prior to her appointment Commissioner Mellinger was employed by the Board of Parole Commissioners for 11 years as a Hearings Examiner. Prior to that, she was employed for the Nevada Department of Corrections as a Correctional Casework Specialist. Commissioner Mellinger holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology: Criminology & Criminal Justice, with a minor in Psychology from California State University Northridge. Commissioner Mellinger has been a resident of Nevada since 2004. Commissioner Mellinger’s term expires June 30, 2028.