The criminal defense lawyers of Sindel, Richard H. Sindel, Inc. are highly experienced in helping clients appeal criminal convictions. Being convicted of a crime is not always the end of the story, and we know that unfortunately many lives have been disrupted by convictions resulting from faulty evidence.
In some cases, the laws themselves are later deemed to be unfair and are therefore changed to reflect current reality. That was the case with Missouri’s persistent offender law, which was recently repealed by lawmakers. In light of that change, Gov. Jay Nixon recently commuted the life sentence of a man who was convicted of non-violent crimes related to marijuana.
The 62-year-old man was convicted of three marijuana-related felonies, and in 1996 he was sentenced to life without parole. The governor pointed out that the man was not convicted of any violent offenses, nor was he convicted of selling drugs to children. In fact, he was the only individual in Missouri currently serving a life sentence without parole after being convicted of non-violent marijuana crimes.
The man’s son expressed elation at the news and quickly began making plans to visit his father.
The commuted sentence comes after Missouri lawmakers, marijuana legalization advocates and the man’s family members campaigned for his release.
If you or a loved one has been wrongfully convicted of a crime, then do not hesitate to speak with a criminal defense attorney about your available legal options. To learn more about these matters, please see Sindel, Richard H. Sindel, Inc.’s criminal defense overview.
