Pardon board denies most clemency requests, recommends a few pardons and two commutations

The Committee on Parole met March 10, 2025 in a series of regional hearings and by video to consider multiple clemency, pardon and commutation requests. The board recommended a small number of pardons with restoration of firearms, recommended two commutations to 99 years, set one case aside pending legal clarification, and denied most other applications after victim or prosecutorial opposition or because members said petitioners had not met the board’s standards.

Why it matters: The board’s recommendations go to the governor (pardon/commutation) or change a prisoner’s parole status. Several cases raised public-safety and victim-opportunity questions that divided members and produced split votes. A unanimous vote was required for favorable action at sessions that reported only four members present.

Votes at a glance (cases discussed and the board’s recorded outcome): - Michelle Gaspard (OC 712862) — Seeking pardon with restoration of firearms: board voted to recommend a pardon with restoration of firearms to the governor (motion and concurring remarks recorded; recommendation entered into the record). Evidence: witness statements and a minister’s video; family members spoke in support. - Vernon (Mister) White (DOC 454650) — Seeking pardon with restoration of firearms after multiple DWI convictions: board denied the application after members cited recent drinking history and insufficient cleansing period. - Bernard Burkhalter (sentenced in Orleans Parish, life for second-degree murder) — Applied for commutation: the board heard extensive victim-family opposition and denied the application. - Eddie Ford (David Wade Correctional Center) — Commutation/parole eligibility status unclear: board set the case aside pending legal clarification of parole eligibility under recent statutory changes (no vote on clemency was taken at the hearing). - Minh (Mister Doe) / Bernard Doe (multiple past convictions) — Seeking pardon with restoration of firearms: board denied, citing recent convictions including contraband events and a lack of a 10‑year cleansing period. - Victor Jackson (Madison Parish, life for first-degree murder reduced to life after plea) — Sought commutation: denied after victim-family opposition and discussion of the nature of the offense and plea history. - Griffin (first-degree sexual/aggravated assault convictions) — Sought commutation: denied; members cited seriousness of the offense and remaining sentence length. - Naomi Wheat (20th JDC manslaughter; 25-year sentence) — Sought commutation: denied; board members noted family opposition and the recency/seriousness of the offense relative to time served. - Eddie Perry (Elaine Hunt Correctional Center) — Sought commutation/parole relief: the board voted to recommend commutation of sentence to 99 years (motion carried with board concurrence recorded), with the recommendation to the governor. - Tyrone Allen (Jefferson Parish, second-degree murder) — Sought commutation: denied; members cited violent history and inconsistent accounts of the crime. - Sean Lewis (West Carroll Parish, habitual-offender sentence for possession of stolen property) — Sought immediate parole eligibility: mixed votes (one member voted to grant immediate parole eligibility while others voted to deny); final outcome of the hearing was denial because a unanimous favorable vote was required and was not reached. - Edwin Pippen (Ascension Parish, misdemeanor simple battery conviction) — Sought pardon with restoration of firearms: denied; members cited multiple domestic incidents in the record and asked the petitioner to reapply after a longer demonstration period without incidents. - Dr. Pamela Phoenix (Jefferson Parish, 1993 Medicaid restitution issue) — Sought pardon with restoration of firearms: board voted to recommend a pardon with restoration of firearms to the governor (DA took no position after records showed restitution resolved). The board noted expungement (not pardon) is required for dismissed charges that remain on record. - Bernard Glapion (1993 suspended sentence for theft) — Sought pardon with restoration of firearms: board recommended a pardon with restoration of firearms to the governor. - Serena Scott / Lèret (Terrebonne Parish, 2001–02 forgery/theft conviction; previously granted clemency without firearms) — Sought restoration of firearms only: board denied restoration of firearms (members said she had done well but they were not ready to restore firearm rights). - Gerald (Gerald Anthony) Blanks (2014 possession of Xanax, suspended sentence) — Sought pardon with restoration of firearms: board denied today (members said more time without related incidents or a longer cleansing period was needed).

Discussion highlights and board reasoning: - Cleansing period: multiple members repeatedly cited an informal 10‑year “cleansing” expectation for nonviolent offenses before recommending restoration of firearms or pardons, especially where there was prosecutorial or victim opposition. - Victim impact and public safety: when victims or law‑enforcement opposed (for example in homicide or violent assault cases), several members said that opposition weighed decisively against commutation or pardon. - Procedural holds: in at least one case (Eddie Ford), the board set a case aside to verify parole eligibility after statutory changes were identified and legal staff were asked to provide clarification before any vote.

What’s next: Recommendations for pardons and commutations made by the board are forwarded to the governor for final action. Denials end this review unless an applicant refiles or new evidence/mitigating documentation is submitted. For cases set aside, the board will reconvene to act when legal clarification is provided.

Ending: The board completed regionally anchored hearings across correctional sites and by Zoom; members stressed that the board’s primary considerations were public safety, victim impact, and evidence of rehabilitation documented over time.