California Governor Jerry Brown on Thursday allowed parole for James Schoenfeld. The 63-year-old was convicted in 1976 along with his brother Richard and friend Fred Woods for the kidnapping of 26 school children as well as the bus driver.

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Since the governor neither approved parole for Schoenfeld nor presented his case to the board that recommended Schoenfeld's release in April, the parole board's decision to release him is not considered final.

California is one of the three states where a Governor can stop and reverse paroles for inmates. In the first two years of his tenure, Brown allowed 971 grants of parole to stand and reversed 162.

Schoenfeld and his accomplices held their captives in a buried trailer. Alhough the three men belonged to wealthy families based in San Fransico, they asked for $5 million ransom for releasing the children (aged between five and 14). The kidnapping was planned for 18 months before it was executed. The trailer in which the hostages were kept was parked in a quarry near Liverpool. It was well-ventilated and stocked with sufficient supply of food, water, and mattresses.  

The incident came to light when the students and the bus driver of the Dairyland Union School District eloped from the trailer while the kidnappers were sleeping.

The kidnappers were subsequently arrested and made to stand trial. On pleading guilty, they were given life sentences but the appeals court later reduced their punishment after hinting at the possibility of parole.

James Schoenfeld is serving his sentence at California Men's Colony located in San Luis Obispo. His brother was granted parole in 2012 and Woods could have a parole hearing this fall.

"Once the prison is notified of the decision, it will have five days to schedule Schoenfeld's release," said Luis Patino, spokesman of Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Since 2009, California has granted parole to more than 1,700 lifers.

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