[AlaskaErik]

But you don’t have to file for parole once your sentence is up. Then you get out free and clear, and no parole officer.

His sentence was 16 to life, so no definitive release date. I'm surprised the parole board even set up a hearing for him, since he didn't request one. In Alaska you have to request a hearing, one isn't automatically set up for you. And if parole is denied, you can't reapply for 10 years, unlike California, where you can apparently apply every year.

[mmichaels1970]

His sentence was 16 to life, so no definitive release date.

Then that makes better sense. Had the article actually SAID that, there would have been no confusion. Instead the article says:

when he was sentenced to 16 years in prison for brutally murdering his mother

That's not nitpicking IMHO. The difference between "sentenced to 16 years" and "sentenced to 16 years to life" is an important enough detail to provide accurately.