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Governor pardons 68, commutes sentences for 10 others

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By Laura A. Bischoff, Staff Writer Updated 10:18 PM Monday, November 23, 2009

COLUMBUS — Gov. Ted Strickland on Monday, Nov. 23, granted pardons to 68 Ohioans and commuted the sentences for 10 others, including a Lucas County man who has served 12 years for a murder that the governor and the trial judge believe he likely did not commit.

Strickland said Willie Knighten, 37, who was convicted of murder and attempted murder in 1997, should be released as soon as possible.

“After careful and diligent examination of the totality of the materials available to me, I believe that the sentence imposed upon Willie Knighten was in all likelihood imposed for a crime that he did not commit,” Strickland said.

William Skow, the trial judge in Knighten’s case, wrote an extraordinary letter to the Ohio Parole Board shortly before his death, saying his verdict was wrong.

Strickland also commuted the sentence of convicted killer Sonya Jackson, 48, saying her 20 years to life sentence was excessive.

Out of 296 requests, Strickland denied 218 and granted 78. He still has to decide 403 applications he received in 2008 and this year.

In cases from Greene, Miami, Montgomery and Warren counties, Strickland denied 22 requests for clemency and granted six full pardons and one commutation.

Overall, Strickland granted clemency in 26.3 percent of the cases he decided.

“I’d describe it as a very careful use of clemency powers, based upon the totality of the information we had available to us,” Strickland said.

The Ohio Constitution grants the governor broad powers when it comes to clemency. He can use them to reduce sentences or wipe out criminal records for any offenses save treason and impeachment. This is the first time Strickland has used clemency powers in non-death penalty cases since taking office nearly three years ago.

Commuting sentences of prisoners can sometimes haunt a governor if the offender commits some heinous crime after clemency is granted. It can also invite political charges of being soft on crime.

“I think my staff had some concerns about potential fall out but ... I tried to avoid those kinds of considerations from being a part of the decision making process,” Strickland said.

Contact this reporter at (614)224-1624 or lbischoff@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Source: Gov. Strickland’s office
Local clemency decisions
County	Commutations Requested	Granted	Pardons Requested	Granted
Butler	4	0	4	3
Champaign	1	0	1	0
Greene	1	0	2	0
Miami	0	0	1	0
Montgomery	10	1	10	6
Warren	6	0	0	0