Amnesty actions in NC | WUNC

Late Wednesday, Gov. Roy Cooper announced he was commuting the sentences of six people in North Carolina prisons and granting innocence to two others.

According to the governor’s office, the clemency actions followed a review by the Office of Administrative Clemency, the Office of General Counsel and the governor.

“Ensuring that cases are carefully reviewed when taking action against executive pardons is a responsibility I take seriously,” Cooper said. he said in a press release. “We are carefully considering the recommendations made by the Youth Sentencing Review Board to reduce sentences for crimes committed by minors. All of these individuals deserve mercy, and we will continue to work to protect our communities and improve the fairness of our criminal justice system.”

Factors that enable these actions to occur include the circumstances of the crimes, length of sentences, prison records, and readiness to successfully rejoin communities after prison.

In announcing the amnesty actions, the governor’s office released specific details about each case:

The Juvenile Sentences Review Board recommended commuting the sentences of:

• Terence Smith, now 42, spent nearly 25 years in prison for his involvement in a robbery in Forsyth County in which three people were shot and wounded. Mr. Smith was 17 at the time of the crime, was not the shooter, and expressed remorse. While incarcerated, Mr. Smith participated in extensive programs, including community college classes, drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, and numerous personal development classes. He also worked regularly in prison and maintained and developed close relationships with his family. Mr. Smith will be released on November 27, 2024.

• George Lesane, now 47, spent more than 30 years in prison for the murder of Larry McCormick in Robeson County when Mr. Lesane was 17. While incarcerated, Mr. Lesane had a strong prison record and was working multiple jobs. He also completed his GED and took numerous community college courses, as well as personal development classes, including Napoleon Hill. He also served as a Last Step mentor, sharing his experiences with teachers and principals of at-risk youth. He is the faith leader at the facility. Mr Lesane will be released on 27 November 2024.

• Donte Santiago, now 40, spent more than 23 years in prison for the murder of Frederick Howell in Onslow County when Mr. Santiago was 16. Mr. Santiago was a faith leader during his incarceration and served as a spiritual mentor to others. He also pursued educational opportunities, including earning his GED and various certifications from UNC. He works as a golden collar trainer in a prison program to train service dogs. Mr. Santiago will be eligible for immediate parole.

• Kirston Angell, now 35, spent 17 years in prison in Davie County for killing Bobby Boles and assaulting two other victims with a deadly weapon. He was 16 years old at the time of the crimes. While incarcerated, Mr. Angell graduated cum laude from the Field Minister Program at Southeastern College in North Carolina. He currently serves juvenile inmates at Foothills Correctional Facility. He is currently continuing his master’s degree. He has also participated in the New Leash on Life dog training program, won numerous art awards and has an exemplary disciplinary record. He will be eligible for parole as of January 1, 2027.

Accordingly, the two people who were punished are:

• Penny Jarrett, 60, served 27 years in prison without parole for the murder of Henry Draughn in Guilford County. Mitigation was recommended by both a resident high court judge and the Parole Commission. During her incarceration, Ms. Jarrett took advantage of numerous educational and training opportunities, including obtaining certifications in culinary technology, working on the state tourism hotline, and other jobs. He also volunteered as a mentor to new inmates. Ms. Jarrett will be eligible for immediate parole.

• Jesse Graham, 71, was sentenced to 26 years in prison without parole for the murder of Jimmy Harris in Guilford County. While incarcerated, Mr. Graham served as a senior speaker for the Think Smart program and spoke to college basketball players, giving them advice on making good decisions. He is also president of the Central Jail Veterans Club, has held numerous jobs, and is captain of the Central Jail weightlifting team. Mitigation was recommended by both a resident high court judge and the Parole Commission. Mr. Graham will be eligible for immediate parole.

The two people who received the innocence pardon are:

• Darron Carmon was convicted of Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon in Pitt County in 1994 and served over 7 years in state prison. His conviction was vacated by the Pitt County Superior Court in 2022.

• Mark Crotts was convicted of two counts of First Degree murder in Alamance County in 1992 and served 2 years in state prison. His conviction was vacated by the Alamance County Superior Court in 1994. He was retried twice, ending in a hung jury in 1996 and an acquittal on both charges in 1997.

According to the governor’s office, the two innocence pardons “follow intensive review of the cases and acknowledge that the recipients are innocent of the crimes for which they were convicted.”

The pardon gives each recipient the right to file a claim under North Carolina law, which allows for compensation to be awarded to people wrongfully convicted of felonies.