SkinInsite Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 (CNN) -- In his last days in office, outgoing Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour pardoned four men convicted of murder, a state official said Monday.David Gatlin, Joseph Ozment, Charles Hooker and Anthony McCray received full pardons and were released at 1 p.m. Sunday, said Suzanne Singletary, spokeswoman for the Mississippi Department of Corrections. All four were serving life sentences and worked as trusties at the governor's mansion, she said. "It is at any governor's discretion," said Singletary. Gatlin was convicted of murder, aggravated assault and burglary of a residence, she said. Ozment was convicted of murder, conspiracy and armed robbery in a separate case. Both inmates were at minimum security level, she said. Hooker was convicted in a 1991 murder, while McCray was convicted in a 2001 murder, Singletary said. The governor also recently pardoned Nathan Kern, who was serving a life sentence for burglary, she said. Why do we give people the power to grant pardons, seems like a lot of power just to piss the public off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan T. Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 I saw this story, and hoped that those pardoned might have included one or more of those convicted by testimony from that criminally bogus dentist who was a self-proclaimed expert on dental impressions, Dr. Michael West, who manufactured evidence to send people to jail. I don't think his victims were among those pardoned though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darrell Green Fan Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Any particular reason the governor would do this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 in general to correct injustices and extend mercy I'm not a fan of bypassing the will of the people w/o rather strong evidence of injustice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EersSkins05 Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Admittedly that story doesn't contain all the facts surrounding the reasons for these pardons. But that governor continues to come off in the national media as a total scumbag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 So, it appears that he pardoned 4 murderers because he got to know them at his mansion, not because they were innocent or their sentences were unjust. Errr... I hope there is more to this story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Errr... I hope there is more to this story. Like rich relatives? I agree with you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darrell Green Fan Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 How gutless is it that these guys tend to do it on their way out instead of having to face the music. It certainly does look like he is letting them off because he got to know them. Maybe if he got to know the vitcim's families things would turn out differently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumbo Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 in general to correct injustices and extend mercy wussy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 They're saying now on CNN that he actually pardoned over 200 more people, including more murderers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan T. Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 They're saying now on CNN that he actually pardoned over 200 more people, including more murderers. Maybe he's running for another state office and is counting on the restored votes of the legions he's pardoning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilmer17 Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Id love for light being shed on this practice to finally end it. Both at the state level and on the Federal one. But I betcha a dollar the power to pardon will NEVER go away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 wussy Me?.....I make Perry look merciful :pfft: I'm more of a drawn and quartered type Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Maybe they had some dirt on him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visionary Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Me?.....I make Perry look merciful :pfft:I'm more of a drawn and quartered type Going away party followed by executing everyone on death row at once? ---------- Post added January-10th-2012 at 03:43 PM ---------- Maybe they had some dirt on him. Or maybe he was drawing names out of a hat, accidently dropped the hat, and just decided to pardon err'body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 BW, am I the only person who's at least uncomfortable with the image of convicted murderers working at the Governor's mansion? To me, that seems, well, the best way I can think of, to describe it, is "plantation-esque". I mean, if there's a disparity of power between Bill Clinton and an intern, isn't there an even bigger one between a Governor and a convicted prisoner? I certainly understand a Governor having household staff. (Among other things, entertaining is a job function.) But prisoners? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teller Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 BW, am I the only person who's at least uncomfortable with the image of convicted murderers working at the Governor's mansion? To me, that seems, well, the best way I can think of, to describe it, is "plantation-esque". I mean, if there's a disparity of power between Bill Clinton and an intern, isn't there an even bigger one between a Governor and a convicted prisoner? I certainly understand a Governor having household staff. (Among other things, entertaining is a job function.) But prisoners? I can certainly understand that perspective. My first thought was being one of the troopers assigned to his security detail. "Pardon me, sir? You're getting WHO? To do WHAT?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 I certainly understand a Governor having household staff. (Among other things, entertaining is a job function.) But prisoners? a old tradition in some parts to make up for the loss of slaves. they are rather well screened,and have serious background checks....plus ya know where they live sometimes it's just hard to let go http://www.thegrio.com/news/is-forced-labor-coming-back-to-georgia.php GA gov proposes ex-cons pick fruit, cotton instead of immigrants Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nonniey Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 Admittedly that story doesn't contain all the facts surrounding the reasons for these pardons. But that governor continues to come off in the national media as a total scumbag. What?? I think you may be mixing Barbour up with Scott from Florida. For the most part the media has portrayed Barbour as an efficient and highly successful Governor (In fact he was so well thought of, that he was considered to be a potential contender for the Presidency). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sisko Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 Barbour can't help himself. You know how into compassion and soft on crime those libruhls are. Oh, wait. a old tradition in some parts to make up for the loss of slaves.they are rather well screened,and have serious background checks....plus ya know where they live sometimes it's just hard to let go http://www.thegrio.com/news/is-forced-labor-coming-back-to-georgia.php GA gov proposes ex-cons pick fruit, cotton instead of immigrants I posted this story from a different source in one of the illegal immigrant threads. It was a brilliant (and damn scary) idea by our crooked Governor. The only problem was that the ex-cons couldn't even last a day out in the fields. So much for the idea that they're putting good, hardworking Amuhricuns out of work...but that's another discussion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thiebear Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 Barbour can't help himself. You know how into compassion and soft on crime those libruhls are. Oh, wait. I posted this story from a different source in one of the illegal immigrant threads. It was a brilliant (and damn scary) idea by our crooked Governor. The only problem was that the ex-cons couldn't even last a day out in the fields. So much for the idea that they're putting good, hardworking Amuhricuns out of work...but that's another discussion. Why do you hate Amuhricuns? So 1 attempt for force parolees to work in the fields that they had no experience nor want to do = nobody can do it but other illegals that have no other choices also? That is a tangled string theory there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 bring back chain gangs for conditioning,we can have them in shape in time for work-release programs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenaa Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 bring back chain gangs for conditioning,we can have them in shape in time for work-release programs Yup. They should be made to be productive while in the care of the state. Less idle time can only be a good thing for the incarcerated. If I was in prison, getting out into the real world to work every day would be a blessing. Though that is the non-criminal mind at work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unforgiven Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/11/justice/mississippi-pardons/index.html?hpt=hp_t1 - Mississippi judge blocks release of pardoned prisoners "A Mississippi judge Wednesday evening issued a temporary injunction forbidding the release of any more prisoners pardoned by outgoing Gov. Haley Barbour, whose actions created a firestorm of criticism....." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Never knew you could forbid use of powers granted....but perhaps they can prevent release of those in custody guess I shoulda read the link first Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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