The Arkansas Parole Board on Monday recommended that Governor Asa Hutchinson commute the sentence of one Southeast Arkansas man while saying that the applications of eight others were without merit.
Also on Monday, the board recommended a pardon for one man, the restoration of firearm rights for a second and said a third application was without merit.
Billy Welch, who was convicted as a habitual offender of possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms in Dallas County, was one of three applicants to have their sentences commuted.
Those Southeast Arkansas residents whose applications were deemed to be without merit, the county of conviction and crimes convicted of were as follows:
- Isiah Dumas, Jefferson County, first-degree escape, kidnapping, two counts theft of property, aggravated robbery, rape.
- Ronald Green, Desha County, manufacture, delivery or possession of a controlled substance as a habitual offender. Heather Hachett, Drew County, manslaughter, abuse of a corpse.
- Michael McReynolds, Grant Count, three counts manufacture, delivery or possession of a controlled substance, fraud, etc., drug paraphernalia, two counts delivery of a Schedule III controlled substance more than 28 grants.
- Kendall Rhodes, Drew County, two counts rape, kidnapping.
- Darrell Spencer, Grant County, rape.
- Doyle Strange, Arkansas County, possession of a Schedule I/II controlled substance with purpose to deliver less than two grams excluding methamphetamine or cocaine.
- Daniel Strickland, Desha County, burglary, kidnapping, four counts rape, aggravated robbery, theft of property.
At the same meeting, the board recommended that Larry Miller, who was convicted of burglary and arson in Jefferson County, be pardoned, and that James Wolfe, who was convicted of four counts of theft of property in Jefferson County, have his right to possess a firearm be restored. The pardon request of John James, who was convicted of third-degree sexual assault in Jefferson County, was rejected as being without merit.
All the applications will go to the governor, who will make the final decision.