Arkansas governor to pardon son on drug charges

[brooklynite]

Source: CNN

Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe plans to pardon his son for a felony drug charge from more than a decade ago.

"It will probably be in the next few weeks," said Matt DeCample, a spokesman for the Democratic governor.

"For any pardons the governor does, the person has to have finished all terms of their sentence ... and then had a period of time where they've shown they have straightened their lives out."

Kyle Beebe, who is now 34, was convicted in 2003 of possession of a controlled substance -- marijuana. He was fined and sentenced to three years supervised probation, according to CNN affiliate KATV.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/13/politics/arkansas-governor-will-pardon-son/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

---

Thank god this idiot wasn't up for re-election this cycle.

[Art_from_Ark]

1. Idiot?

You have no idea what you are talking about. Governor Beebe did a fine job of keeping the Republicans at bay while he was in office, and almost certainly would have been re-elected if he had been allowed to run again. His son was convicted merely of marijuana possession-- not like the murderer who was pardoned by his predecessor, who went on to kill again.

[brooklynite]

3. Tell me, how many non-violent offenders with marijuana convictions are also getting pardoned?

[handmade34]

7. I posted in another...

thread about this... I have not researched further but I think we are too quick to judge sometimes... this Governor seems to hand out quite a few pardons

might be some other drug offenders there I can not criticize the pardon of his son... happy for him

http://governor.arkansas.gov/office/Pages/pendingExecutivePardons.aspx

Executive Pardons
Pending Executive Pardons 2014
November 2014
Phillip W. Allen
Roger D. Barnett
Leah Brandon Ruddell
Richard Burrow
Daniel E. Bush
Robert L. Chisnall
Anna Lee Clark
Preston Cook
LeQuisha A. Dunigan
James Gosvenor
Jerrod W. Holloway
Marcus Hubbard
Michael E. Jackson
Tanya L. Myers Krantz
John M. Land, Jr.
Garrett McGhee
Michael Okoniewski
Raymond W. Owens
John L. Roach
Carly Rogers
Thomas D. Rose
Julie McCown
Gladden Shelby
Jerry Smith
Mark A. Walker
Paul Whitehead

October 2014
Donald Brown
Perry Casey
Naomi Chambers-Gill
Garrett Cowsert II
David Davis
John Faye
Jonathan Fears
Tracy Fisher
Eugene Hovis
Shannon Hovis
Crystal Johnston Haynes
Jason Pavatt
Bradley Moring
Paul Roberson
Larry Tumbleson
Dana Turner
Sharon Turner

September 2014
Brian Armand
Colt Boyd
Jason Crabtree
Carl Daugherty
Steve Estabrook
James Hall
David Haymon
Jimmy Hobbs Jr.
Randall Housley Sr.
Danny Leichman
Amy Rankins
Angela Sims
Zachary Vann
Russell White
Kristy White-Clayborn

August 2014
Phillip Henderson
David Mayer
Charles McNany
John R. Pickartz
Rennae Wilkerson Storment
Michelle Bryan Whitaker

July 2014
Keith Blevins
Kelli Coleman
Brian C. Feathers
Larry B. Fluellen, Jr.
Kevin E. Johnson
William M. Lewis
Jimmy D. Logan
Stan Lynch
Daniel Vinson
Brian K. Yarnell


June 2014
Elvins, Susan
Hicks, DeWayne
Johnson, Mark A.
Monday, Richard G.
Maze, Charlene
Sloss, Jimmy
Smith, Daniel
Weeks, Gary

May 2014
Bolden, Kevia K.
Bowden, Raymond J.
Cossey, David
Green, Mickey
Green, Paula
King, Randy
Lane, Toby
McWhorter, William E
Middleton, Richard
Morris, Nicki
Newborn, Jackie R.
Oliver, Jeremy P.
Ramos, Mynor G.
Siedle, Charles R.
Sykes, Michael C.

April 2014
Jimmy E. Blackwood, Sr.
Brian Earls
Roderick A. Hyre, Jr.
Tyrel W. Kempson
Johnny L. Kesterson
Tony N. Moses
Jarrod A. Petrus
Robert E. Richards, Jr.
Jordan C. Riddle
Adam L. Willfond

March 2014
Tracey A. Green
Ronnie W. Hayes
Billy R. Johns
Edward A. Joseph
Nathan G. Lee
Mary Odom
Tony M. Ratliff
Lloyd V. Renfro
Ellis R. Tidwell


February 2014
Bobby J. Douthit
James R. Hosford
Cloris Jean Espinosa Madrid
Jeffrey D. Petty
Latonya Tripp Washington

January 2014
Bobby J. Bentley
Joshua H. Brown
Byron Scott
Chad L. Wright

Executive Pardons 2013
December 2013
Sarah E. Frazier
Orvil Germany
Walter Henschel
Shawn Lawrence
Donnie F. Maier
Terrill R. White
Patricia K. Williams

November 2013
John E. Bamburg, Jr.
Michael L. Loy
Steve W. Spears

October 2013

Randy Bettger
Robert M. Brown
Ronald G. Holland
Michael C. Horn
Jared L. Jackson
Marcia R. Taylor
Timothy C. Thomas

September 2013
Venton L. Leakey
Steven W. McDonald
Michelle O'Barr
Romillious D. Scroggins
Rodney W. Silvers
Joshua K. Smith
Stephen W. Tencleve

August 2013
Eric Pinter
Louis L. Pledger
Kenneth H. Stump

July 2013
Dustin Hardester
Mathieu Hyatt
Bryan Loving
Tammie Workman

June 2013
Bradley Boyd
Jeffery Champlin
Deniece Nelson
Shannon P. Sanders
Charlie A. Stover Jr.
Finley P. Turner III
Wesley D. Vanlandingham


May 2013
Tim Bumpous
Warren Elliott
Jerry L. Lee
Gary J. Lipe
Tammy L. Murphy
Nancy Ritchie Newell
Johnny R. Pitchford
Gary P. Wilson

April 2013
Willie E. Easley
Robert D. Ellis
Charles D. Kildow
Lee C. Nayles
Calvin J. Tidwell
Renee Davis Victory


March 2013
Gary Owens (commutation)
Leah D. Evans
Keith Flynn
Cleotus Hughes
Victoria Jefferson
Darrell Kading
Nicholas McGhee
David Byron Powell
February 2013
William J. Donahue
Jason R. Holland
Robert P. Lomax
David Lee Waits
Herman T. Warren

January 2013
Larry Brothers (commutation)
Terry Dale
Floyd E. Gattis, Jr.

Executive Pardons 2012
December 2012
Joshua B. Baker
Roger Clark Sr.
Juanita Herrin Godfrey
Nancy Kester
Geoffrey Lueken
Jeff Rousseau
Jason Wheatley

November 2012
Jason Bishop
Ann M. Jackson
James D. Odom, Jr.
Terry A. Rudder
Kimberly Morrow Shurtleff
Denisho Stone
Mickel D. Warren

October 2012
Kyle E. Burton
Keith Heide
James T. Humphrey
Joseph S. Owens
Lisa Teer
Anthony Thompson
Cory W. Whorton

September 2012
Patricia Davidson
Nathaniel M. Mason
Harold D. Stallings, Jr.
Lucas J. Williams

August 2012
Holly D. Hart
Eric A. Neal
Jimmy E. Powell
Perry D. Willhite
Christopher C. Williams

July 2012
John W. Ford
Michael M. Green
Jessica Croft Kalkbrenner
Peggy Susanne Neal
Ryan G. Stone
Willie Wiles

June 2012
Michael Barrow
Jimmy Cowan
Kelsey Edwards
Randy Golden
Shannon Bayless Morrison
Shane A. Staggs
Scott A. Waldo
Jason Walton
James L. Watts, Jr.

May 2012
Steve Y. Frazier
Barris J. Galloway
Charles A. Hastings
Thomas R. Knighten
Delois J. Rainey
Rachelle Benton Rush
Mitchell D. Thompson

April 2012
Terry Ables
Glendale Collins
William L. Conklin
Zachary Jackson
Marzetta Oates
Johnny Suggs
Edward White

March 2012
Jeffery L. Frazier
Anthony Hurrell
Beverice Hice Line
Justin Lutick
Pamela J. Miller
Bryan Stewart

February 2012
Calla J. Duvall
Terra McCabe-Wilburn
Jimmy Ray Morris
Theresa Qualls
Shelia Simpson
Corey Toney

January 2012
Tracy S. Brown
Ricky D. Gillespie
Carrington Jenkins
Bandy L. Shearer

[Louisiana1976]

4. Well said. Marijuana possession isn't that bad a crime and, once it's legalized, it'll be moot.

[One_Life_To_Give]

5. Yet failure to recuse himself

really doesn't say much about us. Regardless the merits there are times when we need to avoid any potential appearance of propriety. It would be far better were someone not related to be the one issuing the pardon and to be certain that all those unconnected people with similar circumstances were pardoned as well.

[Art_from_Ark]

6. Scalia didn't recuse himself in bu$h Vs. Gore

even though he was duck-hunting buddies with one of the (unnamed) plaintiffs who stood to benefit from the decision. That transgression was far greater than soon-to-be-former Governor Beebe pardoning his son. And Beebe's pardon is not worse than Huckabee's commutation of Wayne Dumond's sentence, who raped and murdered after he was released.

But yeah, it would certainly be a good gesture if the governor would pardon others who have been imprisoned under the same circumstances as his son.

[happyslug]

15. To recuse himself is to DENY the pardon

You have to remember only the GOVERNOR can issue a pardon, thus if the sitting Governor recuse himself, they is NO ONE WHO CAN ISSUE THE PARDON till the new governor takes over (and then only if that new governor wants to do so).

Sorry, sometimes you have to take risks.

[branford]

8. It wasn't just a possession charge.

He was convicted of "possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, with intent to deliver, a class C felony."

http://www.katv.com/story/27366706/gov-mike-beebe-will-pardon-his-own-son#.VGPnXk6UpSs.twitter

Pardoning close family members is also, at the very least, unseemly, particularly when guilt is not at issue, regardless of the crime.

[Chemisse]

2. Hey, why not?

I would probably do the same as a parent, if it would have a major effect on my son's future. If it mattered a lot to me, I wouldn't care about reelection.

He would be wise to pardon others in a similar situation though.

[blkmusclmachine]

9. Yuck.

[valerief]

10. Does this mean Beebe is pardoning ALL pot smokers, too? Or just those with the

favored genes?

[840high]

11. I would do the same if

I was him.

[deurbano]

12. The Arkansas Parole Board recommended him for pardon first.

http://www.katv.com/story/27366706/gov-mike-beebe-will-pardon-his-own-son#.VGPnXk6UpSs.twitter

Gov. Mike Beebe says he will pardon his own son
Updated: Nov 12, 2014 3:47 PM PST
By Elicia Dover, Reporter

<<Beebe says he's done more than 700 pardons, mostly of non-violent offenders.

"Especially young people with drugs if they've straightened up, to get their life back on track and have a second chance, so this is no different. It's different because it's my son," Beebe said...

The Arkansas Parole Board recommended Kyle Beebe for pardon on Oct. 20. The recommended pardons are posted for 30 days. Afterward, it is up to Gov. Beebe to pardon those recommendations or deny them....


...A spokesman for the Arkansas Parole Board told Channel 7 News, "I can tell you that [Kyle] Beebe did not receive any special treatment by the Board while his application was under consideration." You can read the Board's statement on the pardon application here.

Along with Kyle Beebe, nine others with similar drug charges were recommended by the board for pardons from the governor.>>

[840high]

16. Thanks

[PeteSelman]

13. Everyone incarcerated or on probation for pot should be released.

Why would you call this guy an idiot?

What the fuck is wrong with you?

[brooklynite]

14. ..because everyone incarcerated or on probation for pot ISN'T being relased.

And from a political standpoint, there's no way the public will see this as sympathetic concern for a family member.

[pnwmom]

17. He should pardon all marijuana possession cases, not just his son. n/t

[sinkingfeeling]

18. Gov. Beebe has been one of the best governors in the country. Arkansas has a

balanced budget and he was able to get a GOP legislature to expand health coverage to 240,000 Arkansans. I, as a resident, approve this pardon.

[Old Nick]

19. Remember when Governor Clinton was in a similar predicament?

A cop called him to say he's found drugs (I think it was just pot, really) on Bill's brother Roger. "Bust him," the governor said.

[deurbano]

22. President Clinton pardoned him.

[Old Nick]

23. But of course

He'd been elected.

[deurbano]

24. When you said Clinton was in a "similar predicament," I thought you meant when he

was governor.

[marble falls]

20. This is a simpe pot bust, not a meth cooker. If he does the same for all pot convicts, I'm cool....

with it.

[hedgehog]

21. It's good to be the king....