Two men convicted of murder in Jefferson County were among five people from Southeast Arkansas whose applications to have their sentences commuted were denied by the Arkansas Parole Board on Wednesday.
Terrance Bannister was convicted of first-degree murder in 2005 and Kevin Collins of first-degree murder in 1996.
Bannister also had prior convictions for theft of property, breaking or entering and felon in possession of a firearm. Collins had prior convictions in Jefferson County for aggravated robbery, residential burglary and theft of property; in Desha County for forgery and a probation violation; and in Bradley County for residential burglary, theft of property and a probation violation.
The board also rejected the applications of Brian Harrison, Jerome Howard and Torian Reed.
Harrison was convicted of delivery of more than two grams of methamphetamine or cocaine in Arkansas County; Howard of second-degree sexual assault, residential burglary and kidnapping in Jefferson County; and Reed of possession of less than two grams of methamphetamine or cocaine with purpose to deliver and distribution of a controlled substance near certain facilities.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Also on Wednesday, the parole board recommended that five applications for pardons be approved by the governor. Those recommended for pardon, the county of conviction and crime convicted of are as follows:
• Brian Ellenburg, Arkansas County, two counts second-degree sexual assault.
• Stanley R. McKee Jr., Arkansas County, two counts delivery of a controlled substance.
• Teddy R. Spivey, Lincoln County, aggravated assault, second-degree battery, terroristic act.
• Amanda Wainwright, Cleveland County, aggravated assault.
• Markisha Williams, Jefferson County, Hot Check Law.