Recommendations for Clemency by the Oklahoma Pardon & Parole Board

Name

Clemency Hearing

Decision

Outcome

Philip Dewitt Smith

December 2000

Recommended for clemency: 4 in favor, 1 against

Governor Keating commuted Smith's sentence to Life Without Parole citing the possibility of innocence.

Gerardo Valdez
June 2001 Recommended for clemency: 3 in favor, 1 against Governor Keating denied clemency; however he granted a last-minute stay at the Mexican government's request.  Valdez's sentence was eventually overturned by the courts, and he was resented to Life Without the Possibility of Parole in 2003.

David J. Brown

June 2002

Recommended for clemency: 3 in favor, 2 against

Governor Keating denied clemency.  Several stays have been issued in the case.  Execution rescheduled for March 9, 2004.

Ernest Carter, Jr. November 2002 Recommended for clemency 4-0 Governor Keating denied clemency.  Carter was executed December 17, 2002.
Bobby Joe Fields January 2003 Recommended for clemency: 3 in favor, 1 against, 1 recusal.  Recommended sentence be commuted to either 45 years or Life Without Parole. Governor Keating stayed the execution to allow incoming Governor Henry an opportunity to review the case.  Henry denied clemency.  Fields was executed February 13, 2003.
Jackie Willingham June 2003 Recommended for clemency: 3 in favor, 2 against Governor Henry denied clemency.  Willingham was executed July 24, 2003.
Hung Thanh Le
December 2003 Recommended for clemency: 4 in favor, 1 recusal.  Recommended sentence be commuted to Life With the Possibility of Parole. Governor Henry denied clemency; however he granted a last minute stay at the Vietnam Embassy's request.  Execution rescheduled for March 23, 2004.

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