WPBN: Roy Cooper, who is leaving his position as governor of North Carolina, made the announcement on Tuesday that 15 individuals had their death sentences commuted to life sentences without the chance of release.
Cooper made the statement in an online release on Tuesday. “These reviews are among the most difficult decisions a governor can make, and the death penalty is the most severe sentence that the state can impose,” Cooper said.
“After thorough review, reflection and prayer, I concluded that the death sentence imposed on these 15 people should be commuted, while ensuring they will spend the rest of their lives in prison,” he stated.
The corresponding convictions took place as far back as 1993 and as recently as 2011, and the ages of the inmates who are currently being negatively impacted range from 38 to 67 years old.
The inmates who will serve life in prison without the possibility of parole instead of being executed include Hasson Bacote, 38, who was convicted in Johnson County in 2009; Iziah Barden, 67, who was convicted in Sampson County in 1999; Nathan Bowie, 53, who was convicted in Catawba County in 1993; Rayford Burke, 66, who was convicted in Iredell County in 1993; and Elrico Fowler, 49, who was convicted in Mecklenburg County in 1997.
Cerron Hooks, 46, who was convicted in Forsyth County in the year 2000; Guy LeGrande, 65, who was convicted in Stanly County in the year 1996; James Little, 38, who was convicted in Forsyth County in the year 2008; Robbie Locklear, 53, who was convicted in Robeson County in the year 1996; and Lawrence Peterson, 55, who was convicted in Richmond County in the year 1996 are also having their death sentences commuted.
The sentences of death for the following individuals were commuted: William Robinson, age 41, who was convicted in Stanly County in 2011; Christopher Roseboro, age 60, who was convicted in Gaston County in 1997; Darrell Strickland, age 66, who was convicted in Union County in 1995; Timothy White, age 47, who was convicted in Forsyth County in 2000; and Vincent Wooten, age 52, who was convicted in Pitt County in 1994.
After serving as North Carolina’s governor for two years, Cooper, a Democrat, was subject to term limits. As a result, Josh Stein, also a Democrat, would take over as governor. Stein won the general election on November 5 and defeated Mark Robinson, who was running for the position of North Carolina Lieutenant Governor.
Additionally, Cooper absolved two individuals of their previous criminal convictions and made it possible for two additional individuals to be eligible for immediate release.
Cooper was presented with 89 petitions for clemency for death row inmates; however, he only granted 15 of them after conferring with the respective county prosecutors and the families of the victims.
Because of the commutations, there are now 121 people on death row in the state of North Carolina.
FBI Seizes 150 Pipe Bombs in Virginia, Possibly Largest-Ever Explosive Device Bust
Since 2006, the state has not carried out an execution of a prisoner, primarily as a result of the Racial Justice Act of 2009 that was passed in North Carolina.
Because of this statute, incarcerated individuals have the ability to petition the courts for a resentencing if they are able to demonstrate that their convictions and sentences were influenced by racial bias.
Bacote is a Black man who was found guilty of murder and condemned to death by a jury that consisted of ten Caucasian jurors and two Black jurors. Bacote has filed a legal challenge to his sentence.
1-Year-Old Alabama Infant Missing Since September Declared Dead, Mother Faces Charges
Cooper’s decision to commute Bacote’s sentence occurred while the case was being heard by Judge Wayland Sermons Jr. of the Superior Court.
