The State Pardon Board met June 2, 2025 at Louisiana State Penitentiary (Angola) and considered multiple commutation and pardon applications, issuing a mix of recommendations to the governor and denials.

Why it matters: The board’s votes create formal recommendations the governor may accept or reject and affect whether applicants become eligible for parole or regain civil rights (including firearm restoration). Several recommendations on the agenda affect long‑term inmates with decades of institutional programming, and a number of victims and family members attended to oppose or support applicants.

Summary of outcomes and key points
- Daryl (Daryl/"Mr.") Kelly (DOC 128004): The board denied his request to have three 33‑year sentences run concurrently. Board members discussed Kelly’s medical needs and his monthly parole fees. The board recommended that his parole fees be waived to relieve financial hardship; the request to change consecutive sentences to concurrent was denied. Kelly asked the board "All I'm asking is that my sentence be run concurrent." The board instead voted to recommend fee relief.

- James Burgess (DOC 105495): The board denied Burgess’s application after victim opposition and DA opposition; the transcript records the board took four votes to deny and Burgess’s application will remain in line.

- Bartholomew Cross (DOC 302868): The board voted unanimously to recommend commuting Cross’s sentence with immediate parole eligibility (the board recommended the governor commute the sentence to permit parole consideration). Supporters, probation/parole and the Louisiana Parole Project presented reentry plans and transitional housing.

- Dylan (Dylan McNeal / name on packet) and other applicants with violent convictions (including cases assigned to Sabine and Rapides parishes): Several requests for commutation by inmates convicted of aggravated or violent crimes were denied after strong victim and prosecutorial opposition (the transcript records multiple denials by vote for these cases).

- Patrick Lucien (listed in packet as Patrick Lushin/Lucian) and other long‑term inmates: The board reviewed records showing lengthy institutional programming and mixed disciplinary histories. Some cases were denied for insufficient time served or continued victim opposition; others (including applicants with strong family support and trustee status) received recommendations for parole eligibility.

- Wesley Young (DOC 106533): The board voted unanimously to recommend commuting his life sentence to allow immediate parole eligibility; members cited his program completion, trustee status and a victim statement that had shifted to a position of forgiveness.

- John (Ken) Kennison / Kennerson (DOC 16983ish): The board voted unanimously to recommend commuting his sentence; family members present pledged employment and housing on release.

- Tara LeBlanc (pardon applicant): Jefferson Parish DA took no position. The board voted unanimously to recommend a full pardon with restoration of firearms rights (the board noted her post‑conviction rehabilitation and the lapse of many years since the offense).

- Christopher Lewis (Ouachita Parish; previously completed drug court): The board voted unanimously to recommend a pardon with restoration of firearms rights; board members cited his community service, time without new arrests, and active local support.

- Curtis Massey (Ouachita Parish): A split vote left Massey’s application denied. Board members acknowledged long institutional service and charitable work inside the prison but noted strong victim opposition and the violent nature of the offense.

- Darren Williams (Jefferson Parish applicant for commutation): The board voted to recommend commuting Williams’s sentence so that he would be immediately parole‑eligible while the underlying sentence length would remain unchanged; members cited his facilitation work (Toastmasters and other programs) and victim‑impact programming.

- Latoya Luckett and other nonviolent applicants seeking pardons: The board unanimously recommended pardon (Luckett) with firearms restoration in her case; the DA took no position and board members noted steady employment and over 20 years without new arrests.

- Shatondra Mayfield: The board discussed the violent nature of the 2008 offense and strong victim opposition. The board produced some votes in favor of a non‑firearm pardon but did not reach the four favorable votes required; the application was not recommended.

Votes at a glance (formal outcomes recorded in the transcript)
- Kelly (DOC 128004) — request to run sentences concurrent: denied. Recommendation: waive parole fees (board action). (See minutes.)
- Burgess (DOC 105495) — commutation: denied (4 votes to deny per transcript).
- Bartholomew Cross (DOC 302868) — commutation recommended with immediate parole eligibility (unanimous recommendation to governor).
- Wesley Young (DOC 106533) — commutation recommended with immediate parole eligibility (unanimous recommendation to governor).
- Darren Williams (DOC 558033) — board recommended commuting sentence to permit immediate parole consideration (board vote met the threshold recorded in transcript).
- Tara LeBlanc — pardon with firearm restoration: recommended unanimously.
- Christopher Lewis — pardon with firearm restoration: recommended unanimously.
- Latoya Luckett — pardon with firearm restoration: recommended unanimously.
- Curtis Massey — commutation: denied (split vote; application refused to advance).
- Shatondra Mayfield — pardon/restoration: not recommended (insufficient favorable votes; victim opposed).

What board members and victims said (representative quotes)
- Victim Sabar Abby (victim in Kelly matter): "This is not a victimless crime, and it left a pin print on my life and lots of those that love me." The board recorded her plea that the application not remove accountability.
- Applicant Daryl Kelly: "All I'm asking is that my sentence be run concurrent." The board declined that relief but voted to recommend waiver of monthly parole fees to relieve financial hardship.
- Multiple board members repeatedly noted the weight the board gives to victim impact statements, prosecutorial opposition and the applicant’s institutional conduct and programming when deciding whether to recommend commutation or pardons.

Next steps and context
The Pardon Board issues formal recommendations to the governor; those recommendations do not by themselves change a sentence or restore rights. A governor’s office decision is required to implement commutations or pardons. In cases where the board recommended parole eligibility (commutation to permit parole consideration) the governor’s action would enable the applicant to petition the parole authorities or become eligible for a parole hearing per state law.

The meeting included in‑person testimony from victims, family members and local prosecutors (Jefferson, Rapides, Sabine and other parishes). Several applicants had active reentry plans through the Louisiana Parole Project and local family or employer commitments.

Looking ahead: the board’s written minutes and formal transmittal to the governor will list the precise motions and votes; victims and applicants are notified by mail per board practice.