Why I commuted Maurice Clemmons's sentence

Washington Post ^ | December 7, 2009 | Mike Huckabee

[FTJM]

The nation was stunned by the senseless and savage cold-blooded murders of four young police officers in Lakewood, Wash., over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Whenever a police officer or soldier is killed, the loss is even more profound, for they are the ones who stand between our way of life and total anarchy.

Nine years ago, the name Maurice Clemmons crossed my desk. I commuted his sentence from 108 years to 47 years. I take full responsibility for my actions of nine years ago. I acted on the facts presented to me in 2000. If I could have possibly known what Clemmons would do nine years later, I obviously would have made a different decision. If I only had the same information I had then, I would make the same decision.

Each state is different, but in Arkansas, a governor doesn't initiate a parole -- the Post Prison Transfer Board (PPTB) does so after it conducts a thorough review of an inmate's file and request. The board then makes a recommendation to the governor, who decides to grant or deny it.

[Vaquero]

Huckabee is a pro-gun...pro life, socialist....

He wants the rich to fund the poor and the illegals to be given pardons....

he is neither conservative, nor anything like it....and not electable.

[Buckeye Battle Cry]

It’s quite telling that he ran to the Washington Post to run his excuse.

[Cindy]

ON THE INTERNET:

OFFICER DOWN MEMORIAL PAGE: "SERGEANT MARK RENNINGER Lakewood Police Department Washington"

OFFICER DOWN MEMORIAL PAGE: "OFFICER TINA GRISWOLD Lakewood Police Department Washington"

OFFICER DOWN MEMORIAL PAGE: "OFFICER GREG RICHARDS Lakewood Police Department Washington"

OFFICER DOWN MEMORIAL PAGE: "OFFICER RONALD OWEN Lakewood Police Department Washington"

Facebook page: "IN THE MEMORY OF THE LAKEWOOD OFFICERS"

POLICE.CITY OF LAKEWOOD.US: "CITY OF LAKWOOD IDENTIFIES SLAIN POLICE OFFICERS" (November 29, 2009)

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GATEWAY PUNDIT.FirstThings.com: "Black Muslim Group Celebrates 'Brother & Martyr' Maurice Clemmons" by Jim Hoft (December 1, 2009, 11:51 am)

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SEATTLE TIMES.com: "...STOLEN-CAR CHECK LED TO LAKEWOOD POLICE-SLAYING SUSPECT" (SNIPPET: "The officer again told Clemmons to stop, and he didn't comply, Pugel said. As the officer drew his gun, Clemmons "reached into his waist area and moved," the department said in a written statement. The officer then fired several shots at Clemmons, striking him at least twice, the statement said.") (Page last modified December 2, 2009, 2:00 am)

SEATTLEPI.com - SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER: "OFFICER WHO SHOT CLEMMONS IS HAILED AS A 'HERO'" (Last updated December 1, 2009, 6:37 pm PT)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com - blog: "Seattle Police Department on trail of Maurice Clemmons; Update: Family Ramily reportedly aiding Clemmons; Update: Seattle PD officer fatally shoots Clemmons; Update: Suspected getaway driver is former Arkansas cellmate" (November 30, 2009)

OFFICER.com (AP): Seattle - "SEARCH CONTINUES FOR WASHINGTON AMBUSH SUSPECT" (SNIPPET: "Authorities put up a $125,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.") (Updated November 30, 2009, 05:43 pm) (UPDATE: SUSPECT IS DEAD. -December 1, 2009)

KOMO NEWS.com: Seattle - "SARCH FOR CLEMMONS LEAD POLICE TO SEATTLE HOME" (SNIPPET: "Investigators on the scene said negotiators are trying to get the man inside to surrender.") (Updated November 29, 2009, 10:55 pm PST) (UPDATE: Clemmons not in the home.)

KHQ.com: Pierce County, Washington - "POLICE NAME PERSON OF INTEREST IN THE SLAYINGS OF 4 POLICE OFFICERS" SNIPPET: "The person of interest is identified as Maurice Clemmons, a 37-year-old man from the Parkland area of Pierce County. Clemmons is 5'8" tall, 235 lbs., with black hair, brown eyes, and a mole on his left cheek. Authorities say Clemmons has extensive violent criminal history from Arkansas, including aggravated robbery and theft. He has also recently been arrested and charged in Pierce County for Assault 3rd on a Police Officer and for Rape of a Child.") (Note: Photo included below article.) (Posted November 29, 2009, 5:57 pm)

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SEATTLEPI.com - SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER: "4 OFFICERS KILLED IN PIERCE COUNTY" (SNIPPET: "Authorities are looking a person of interest..." SNIPPET: "Police said the suspect may have been injured, perhaps shot before fleeing the scene...") (Updated November 29, 2009, 3:51 pm)

KING5.com: Parkland, Wa - "FOUR LAKEWOOD POLICE OFFICERS SHOT AND KILLED IN 'AMBUSH" (SNIPPET: "Send donations to LPIG Benevolent Fund at PO Box 99579 Lakewood, WA 98499. "I will personally make sure it goes where it is intended. May God bless you four who are in a place so much better than this; you are some of the finest professionals I have ever known. God bless our community today," Wurtz said.") (Updated November 29, 2009, 3:22 pm)

NEWSER.com (AP): "4 POLICE OFFICERS SHOT DEAD IN AMBUSH AT WASH. STATE COFFEEHOUSE; NO SUSPECT IN CUSTODY" "SNIPPET: "Brad Carpenter, founder and owner of Forza Coffee, said his staff was OK and being interviewed by police, and that his main concern was with the families of the police officers. "I'm a retired police officer, so this really hits close to home for me," said Carpenter, of nearby Gig Harbor.") (November 29, 2009, approx 1:50 pm)

KING5.com: "FOUR LAKEWOOD POLICE OFFICERS SHOT AND KILLED IN 'AMBUSH'" (SNIPPET: "SNIPPET: "Troyer said the suspect is a black male, 5-foot-7 to 6 feet tall, 20s to 30s, scruffy appearance, wearing a black coat with a gray sweatshirt underneath, and blue jeans. A $10,000 reward is being offered for information. Tips can be called in to (253) 591-5959 or 866-977-2362.") (November 29, 2009, 9:41 am)

SEATTLE FBI.gov - Contact Information

DINAH LORD - blog: "WA: 4 POLICE OFFICERS SHOT DEAD IN AMBUSH" (November 29, 2009)

LAKEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT

KIRO TV.com: "MAN SOUGHT IN OFFICERS' KILLINGS HAS LENGTHY CRIMINAL HISTORY" (Updated November 29, 2009, 8:52 pm)

ARKTIMES.com - ARKANSAS TIMES - Arkansas blog: "ARK. EX-CON OF INTEREST IN SLAYINGS" (SNIPPET: "My source says the man wanted for questioning is believed to be the same Maurice Clemmons as an Arkansas ex-con with an extensive record of armed robbery who became a subject of some controversy for political reasons. That Maurice Clemmons was among those who became controversial for having received a commuted sentence from then-Gov. Mike Huckabee in 2000 (of a 35-year armed robbery sentence), then went on to commit other crimes.") -Posted by Max Brantley (November 29, 2009, 19:44)

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[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

I commuted his sentence from 108 years to 47 years. [...] If I only had the same information I had then, I would make the same decision.

Then he's not only (demonstrably) a moron; he's a moron with a learning disability.

[chris37]

I don’t care, Mike.

It’s between you and The Lord now.

Tell Him.

[rrrod]

Good ol huckster....sleaze ya can always count on.

[Londo Molari]

ass clown

[chainsaw]

If I could have possibly known what Clemmons would do nine years later, I obviously would have made a different decision. If I only had the same information I had then, I would make the same decision.

It’s obvious the huckster didn’t have the same information the jury and the judge had at the trial.

[Right Wing Assault]

Too late, Mike. I’m tired of listening to you.

[Mark was here]

I could not stop laughing after reading his response.

[bytesmith]

Huckabee is history. He needs to get out of the way and not consume any more band width.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

He needs to get out of the way and not consume any more band width

I'd be perfectly willing to change the word "bandwidth" in that sentence to "oxygen," myself.

[Daisyjane69]

Under NO circumstances, should he be given the powers of presidential pardons.

Period.

[RU88]

Huck, you’re still toast. Now is not the time to be worrying about yourself but for the families of those police officers who lost their loved ones due to your incompetence.

[mkjessup]

I suggest reading the following post from our fellow Freeper 'Sitetest', in which he effectively dismantles the Huckster's logic:

Part of the problem is that a sentence of 108 years wasn't really a sentence of 108 years. From what I've read, without the commutation to 47+ years, the murderer Clemmons would have been eligible for parole around 2015 after having served around 26 years of his sentence.

With the commutation of his sentence, he was eligible immmediately, having served around 11+ years.

Thus, in Arkansas, it appears that one must only serve around 25% of one's sentence to be eligible for parole, and to actually sentence someone to a moderately long sentence - like 25 years - a judge must give an ostensible sentence of four times that - in this example, 100 years.

And then folks say stupid things like, “It's so terrible that one would sentence a 16 year old to 100 years in prison,” when really, the net effect was to sentence the perp to 25 years in prison.

This person Clemmons, as a young man, brutally beat several people, including an old lady that he was robbing, stole large amounts of valuables and weapons, and even in custody, attempted violent crimes against prison personnel, court personnel, and credibly threatened a sitting judge.

Twenty-six years in prison doesn't seem an overly harsh sentence for someone like this at all. And it seems that a formal sentence of 108 years yielded just that - about 26 years in prison.

Gov. Huckabee’s commutation reduced his formal sentence to 47+ years, but his actual sentence to about 11 years. And that was far too short a sentence for such a violent offender.

To say otherwise is disingenuous, bordering on lying.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2401392/posts?page=117#110

Thank you again Sitetest! :)

[mike-zed]

You can sense the “draft Huckabee” movement gaining steam at WaPo and the rest of MSM.

After giving us Juan McCain, they now want to saddle us with the Huckster.

I’m not buying.

[samtheman]

he's a moron with a learning disability

The best description of Mike Huckabee that I've read to date. Thanks, Kent.

[RangerM]

...and the love-fest for Huckabee from the “No RINOS” crowd begins again. (sigh)

Last year it was McCain. Two weeks ago it was Romney. Last week it was Huckabee. Maybe next week it’ll be someone else.

That “Big Tent” is getting smaller every day.

[submarinerswife]

So many people had a chance to correct Huckabee’s mistake and still they let Clemmons slip through their fingers. They need to explain themselves rather than hide while Huck takes all the fire.