Copyright MassLive
The path from behind prison bars to redemption is one a Massachusetts pastor knows well. And in six months, his son will be taking that same path — walking the same steps toward freedom his father took 25 years ago. Pablo Carambot, of Springfield, was granted parole on Oct. 29 after six months in a lower security facility. Carambot pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the 2005 death of Young Man Kim, to one count of armed robbery and to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. He first went in front of the parole board in 2021 but was denied due to his “overall problematic adjustment” in prison, including about 46 disciplinary reports. Some of the disciplinary reports involved assaultive conduct, weapons possession and consuming and selling drugs in prison. He had also joined a Security Threat Group (STG), often referred to as prison gangs, the parole board wrote. He was an active member until at least 2021. Four years later, Pablo Carambot went in front of the parole board again, saying he has been sober, accepted God and is on the right path. “I know my son is on the right path, and he will have all the support that he needs. He has good family. It’s just been the bad decisions that he made, the same way I made when I was a young man,” Ark of Refuge Pastor Louis Anthony Carambot said during a parole board hearing on May 22. The parole board agreed, noting he has had completed significant programming and “appears committed to his sobriety.” Nov. 21, 2005 An armed robbery wasn’t his idea but Pablo Carambot said he still agreed to go along with Rodolfo Melendez — marking the events as “the worst mistake” of his life. The plan was for 20-year-old Pablo Carambot to distract Kim while Melendez attempted to open a jewelry case. But Kim noticed what Melendez was doing. Kim then pulled out a baseball bat and began to beat Melendez. Carambot began yelling at Kim to stop hitting Melendez. Kim then turned the bat on Pablo Carambot. That’s when the 20-year-old removed his gun and told Kim to stop. He didn’t. Before Kim hit Pablo Carambot for a third time, the 20-year-old shot him. The gun was tossed in the Connecticut River. Drug use Both Pablo Carambot’s parents were incarcerated when he was a child. By the time he was 12, he was engaging in substance abuse and delinquent behavior, including being involved in a gang, the parole board stated. He also had negative influences, including some family members. After Pablo Carambot and his siblings moved to the United States from Puerto Rico when he was 16, he began robbing places to fund his daily cannabis use. And it didn’t stop there. His drug use expanded to cocaine, prescription pills, such as Percocet, and heroin. When he robbed the beauty supply store, he was using 15 to 20 Percocet pills a day. He bought the gun, later used to kill Kim, because he felt unsafe when he was dealing drugs. He had the gun for about a month and a half before the murder, he said. Pablo Carambot said he never planned to use the gun during the robbery. He simply always had the gun on him. “So, were you surprised that Mr. Kim fought back,” a parole board member asked. Read more: ‘The devil can’t be disguised’: Family members confront Springfield murderer, rapist Yes, Pablo Carambot said, later adding that he believes the drug use affected his decision making that day. Getting sober In 2015, Pablo Carambot had a conversation with his children that inspired him to change. But it wasn’t easy. He continued having difficulty with substances and his addiction through 2019. After getting in trouble for drugs and making homemade alcoholic beverages while incarcerated that year, he decided to get help. He enrolled in Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), which uses FDA-approved medications including buprenorphine (Suboxone), methadone and naltrexone (Vivitrol) for the treatment of opioid use and alcohol use disorder. He has been sober ever since. During this time, he has been able to be part of various programs within the facility, such as NEADS World Class Service Dogs and helping people with Alzheimer’s. “I feel a need to give back because I know what I did was horrible,” he said. Moving forward Pablo Carambot fears his words will never have the meaning he hopes. Still, he apologized. “I am sorry for the pain caused by my irresponsible actions. I am responsible for killing your loved one,” he said in May. “My violent action created fear, stress and insecurity to a citizen who should feel safe here where they live. I’m sorry for the trauma that may have been caused by my behaviors.” He acknowledged what he did was unforgivable and caused Kim’s family to “live a nightmare.” Read more: Mass. man fought for a parole hearing. His mother died before it could happen “When I committed Mr. Kim murder, I was a godless man. But during my incarceration, I have given my life to Jesus. And I have learned that I have broken both man’s law and God’s law,” he said. “I killed a child of God. And I’m filled with shame. I regret living a godless life because I killed a life created by God. I’m sorry.” His father believes he will now follow the same path as him, someone who was saved by prison and now goes to nursing homes, feeds the homeless and helps people. “He’s not that young kid anymore. Now, he shows remorse, he shows sympathy,” Louis Carambot said. “And most of all, he’s not in denial. He accepts everything that he has done.” But the Hampden District Attorney’s office wasn’t as confident he will stay on the right path. The office feared he “could relapse and that relapse would lead the petitioner to selling drugs and inevitably arming himself.” The office is also concerned that his gang affiliation has only been severed for one year. Assistant District Attorney Lee Baker questioned what would stop him from going back. Their fears, however, don’t mean they aren’t impressed. “I do want to emphasize that we are looking at a lifetime of certain factors being inextricably tied together — substance abuse, gang culture — those things he’s made tremendous strides towards addressing,” Baker said. But Baker had hoped Pablo Carambot could take more time incarcerated to make sure he can continue a good path outside of prison, Baker told the parole board. Pablo Carambot will have electronic monitoring for at least six months, be supervise for drugs and alcohol, have no contact with victim’s family and must go to AA, NA or Smart Recovery three times per week.
