It happened in 87’ correct?.....
Not sure when Pollard was sentenced. The sentence was in violation of a plea bargain. The expectations from the plea bargain were for something like 3-5 years. The Carter-appointed judge gave him life instead. '87 sounds about right. Pollard was arrested in '85 with his wife at the time. The wife did a minimal sentence IIRC.
It was during the Reagan administration, but I don't think that Reagan personally was pulling any strings on it, one way or the other.