A person illegally sentenced to fifteen years in jail for against the law that carries a most penalty of 5 years behind bars is ready to stroll free, after Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves granted him clemency on Wednesday.
The Mississippi Courtroom of Appeals dominated in Could that Marcus Taylor’s sentence was unlawful, however didn’t commute his sentence as a result of Taylor had missed the deadline to use for post-conviction reduction.
After rehearing the case final month, the courtroom reversed course, ordering Taylor’s launch.
Taylor accepted a plea deal in February 2015 for conspiracy to promote a Schedule III managed substance.
Each the trial courtroom and Taylor’s plea petition incorrectly listed the utmost sentence as 20 years, in keeping with the appeals courtroom.
Upon the state’s suggestion, a choose sentenced Taylor to fifteen years.
“That is about justice, not mercy,” Reeves mentioned in an announcement. “Mr. Taylor has served greater than 10 years of his sentence, and additional service of this sentence in extra of the five-year statutory most constitutes a mischarge of justice.”
It’s the first time Reeves has granted clemency since taking workplace in 2020.
Reeves’ order mentioned Taylor should be launched inside 5 days.
Taylor’s lawyer was not instantly accessible for remark.
