User:FloNight/Former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin's pardons

Former Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin issued more than 428 pardons and commutations from the time of his electoral defeat until the end of his term. Bevin's actions drew widespread criticism from law enforcement officials, local and state prosecutors, Kentucky lawmakers from both political parties, and crime victims and their families.

Kentucky’s Attorney General, Daniel Cameron, has requested that the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation investigate. Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers called for an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. In Kentucky the power to issue pardons rests entirely with the governor.

Not all of Bevin's pardons were viewed as being contentious.

Pardons and commutations
A 24 year old male, who was convicted in Kentucky state court for sodomy, wanton endangerment and distributing a matter portraying a sexual performance of a minor in 2014, had his sentence commuted to time served by Bevin in December 2019. He was one of four men who pleaded guilty for their roles in the assault on the victim. The other men continue to serve their sentence. The Commonwealth’s Attorney in Christian CountyRick Boling in a letter, "urged the governor to issue the pardon...", After strong condemnation from local and state officials, Boling later apologized saying, “I’m sorry for the embarrassment that I caused this community, and I have to take full responsibility for my conduct, and I do that, I accept full responsibility for causing this embarrassment, and all I can say is hey, moving forward, I’ve got to focus and make sure I don’t ever do anything to jeopardize this community’s trust.”

After his release, the man was rearrested and charged with failing to file as a sex offender. Additionally, the man was charged in Oldham Circuit Court for promoting contraband while he was still in prison and for being a persistent felony offender. In April 2020, the man was charged with producing child pornography by The U.S. Attorney's Western District of Kentucky Office for his actions in the 2014 assault. He is charged with making a video during the assault that he shared with others on social media.

Racial inequity
Louisville Courier-Journal's analysis shows that 336 of them were granted for non-violent drug sentences. In Kentucky 20% of inmates on drug convictions are African American or from some other minority community yet 95% of the pardon were to white offenders.

Aftermath
Dayton Jones, who was pardoned by Bevin, is charged with production of child pornography by the U.S. Attorney’s office in Louisville in. Jones was previously convicted in Kentucky state court for sodomy, wanton endangerment and distributing a matter portraying a sexual performance of a minor.