LANSING, Mich. (MIRS News) – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer officially announced pardoning four individuals on Dec. 23, which was the first time she has utilized her executive power to set aside a conviction.
Each of the people Whitmer pardoned has served their sentence. The group included Jason Boyd Johnson – who’s preserved a clean record for decades since completing time for a nonviolent offense committed as a teenager – and human trafficking survivor Leslie Fountain King, who established a Grand Rapids home for sex trafficking survivors and presently serves on the National Survivors Network’s board.
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Frank Rodriguez, who had his sentence for a drug offense reduced by former Gov. Jennifer Granholm in 2010, was also pardoned, as well as Sharif Ribhi Shamroukh, who completed probation for a financial offense and was not sentenced to jail time.
“Those she has pardoned have returned to our communities and some we have worked with personally. It is clear they want to give back to society and to address harms within the system by bringing further changes that will positively impact others involved,” Lois Pullano, the executive director of Citizens for Prison Reform, told MIRS via email.
Whitmer additionally provided 18 commutations – meaning an individual’s sentence was reduced and they now qualify for parole consideration. Out of the commutations the recently re-elected governor approved, more than 44% involved a sentence linked to a nonviolent drug crime.
According to the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC), an individual must file an application with the state’s Parole Board to receive a pardon or commutation.
“The applications are reviewed by the parole board on a case-by-case basis, which may involve a public hearing. After the parole board completes its review, the non-binding recommendation is sent to the governor’s office for review and a final determination,” said MDOC communications representative Brianna Brugel.
Brugel told MIRS a person can raise any relevant aspect of their history during the process to obtain a commutation or pardon, “but the parole board’s primary statutory responsibility is to determine if the person would present a risk to the community if released.”
When asked where Michigan ranks when it comes to pardoning inmates, Pullano said it appears – without viewing any formal data (but by researching what other governors did as of Dec. 23) that Whitmer has issued the most pardons and commutations this far announced.
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“There are more we know, who could be released and be contributing significantly within our communities,” Pullano said. “This is a great way to end 2022 – knowing we have a Governor who believes this is the right thing to do.”
Whitmer’s office provided the following list of those who received commutations with descriptions:
– John Eric Aslin served 38 years, after being sentenced to life without the possibility of parole following the heart attack and death of an unarmed burglary victim.
– Antwon Lamont Biffle has served 15 years after being sentenced to 18 to 40 years for a nonviolent drug crime.
– Jimmy Burden has served 39 years after being sentenced to 60 to 100 years for a robbery in which $16 was taken.
– LaDon Demarco Cloud served 22 years after being sentenced to 40 to 100 years for a nonviolent drug offense.
– LaDonna Renee Cummings, a domestic violence survivor, has served 15 years after being sentenced to life without parole.
– Lawrence Dantzler served 37 years after being sentenced to 50 to 100 years as an accomplice to the commission of a crime.
– Alvin Antonio Jones served 17 years after being sentenced to 24 to 50 years for a nonviolent drug offense.
– Willie Roderick Kincaide served 27 years after being sentenced to life for a nonviolent drug offense.
– Michael Landers served nine years after being sentenced to 15 to 20 years for possession of cocaine.
– Monica Lateace McCain served 17 years after being sentenced to 28 to 65 years for an unarmed robbery, which involved a victim falling to the ground and dying days later due to a brain injury.
– James Michael McClain served 18 years after being sentenced to 25 to 60 years for a nonviolent drug offense.
– Hugo Loaiza Rodriguez served 16 years after being sentenced to 25 to 60 years for a nonviolent drug offense.
– Raymond Saenz Jr. served 27 years after being sentenced to life for a nonviolent drug offense.
– Brian Deangelo Sanders served 14 years after being sentenced to 22 to 40 years for a nonviolent drug offense.
– Eboni Renee Spight served 17 years after being sentenced to 28 to 65 years as an accomplice to the aforementioned Monica Lateace McClain.
– Lu Anne Szenay, a domestic violence survivor, has served 32 years after being sentenced to life without parole.
– Donyelle Ferdinand Woods served 17 years and has maintained his innocence.
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