Louisiana parole and pardon panels deny most clemency requests; two commutation recommendations sent to governor

The Louisiana Committee on Parole and the Pardon Board held a series of clemency and parole-review hearings on Feb. 10, 2025, taking live and remote testimony from applicants, family members, wardens and prosecutors. The panels heard more than a dozen cases at DOC Headquarters and at several correctional facilities; most requests for commutation or early parole eligibility were denied, though two inmates received recommendations that their life or long sentences be commuted to 99 years with immediate parole eligibility, subject to the governor's approval and any parole-board process.

Why it matters: The panels balance inmate rehabilitation and public safety alongside victims' interests. Many decisions turned on the combination of applicants' in-prison records and the strength of opposition from victims' families and district attorney offices.

What the panels did and why: Across the docket, applicants who emphasized sustained programming, stable post-release plans and family support received credit for rehabilitation. Where prosecutors or victims' families registered strong opposition — or where the applicant's record showed repeated violent incidents involving weapons — board members said that more time in custody or formal parole hearings would be the appropriate path.

Decisions and reasons (selected cases)

- Willie (Woody) Riley (Jefferson Parish sentence for attempted second-degree murder, 25 years): The board denied his application after hearing victim impact testimony and opposition from the Jefferson Parish DA; wardens and family members had urged leniency, but board members said the seriousness of the offense and the victim's objections weighed against commutation.

- Amber Butler (Washington Parish; armed robbery and firearm use, aggregate 20 years, good-time release 03/27/2027): Butler presented academic and work accomplishments and family reintegration plans. Board members noted her progress but also that she has a firm good-time date only two years away; the motion to commute failed because not all members supported it.

- Walter Aswell (convictions including armed robbery, total 25 years): Despite administrators’ praise for his conduct and education, the board denied the request after noting victim statements, law enforcement opposition and that he accepted a plea. Members cited the seriousness of the offense and the plea agreement.

- James Gladney (multiple decades–era convictions, life sentence): The board denied commutation following oral opposition from multiple family members of the victim and local prosecutors; members cited the nature of the historical crimes and strong community opposition.

- Charles Holmes (Orleans Parish; murder convictions): Board members acknowledged 30 years of programming and religious engagement but denied commutation because of the seriousness of the underlying offenses and other aggravating facts in the record.

- Paul Harris (Lafayette/Aggravated sexual offense conviction, life sentence): After an executive-session review and discussion of his outstanding disciplinary record and the backlog of programming earlier in his incarceration, the board voted to recommend mercy: the panel voted to commute the life sentence to a 99-year term with immediate parole eligibility and to forward that recommendation to the governor for final action. (Recommendation: commutation to 99 years with immediate parole eligibility; must be acted on by governor and, if signed, parole process applies.)

- Bobby Knox (child molestation / sexual offenses; life or long concurrent sentences depending on counts): The DA in Jefferson Parish and the victim’s family opposed relief. The board denied his commutation request, citing the violent nature of the underlying crimes and ongoing victim concerns.

- Lamar Sanders (convictions including manslaughter, total 25 years): The DA and the victim’s family urged denial; the panel denied his commutation request, citing the plea terms, the severity of the victim impact and law-enforcement opposition.

- Duane Sweat (manslaughter; 25-year sentence): Despite educational gains and family support, the board denied clemency after noting law-enforcement opposition and the serious nature of the offense.

- Charles Edwards (Natchitoches Parish; 30-year manslaughter sentence): Edwards presented extensive programming and community support; the DA’s office and the victim family urged that he serve the agreed sentence. The board denied immediate commutation but noted his upcoming parole eligibility as the appropriate mechanism for future relief.

- Derek Clayville (East Baton Rouge, homicide conviction, life sentence): After testimony from family, corrections staff and faith- and reentry advocates and despite objection from the victim’s family and the DA, the board voted to recommend commuting his life sentence to 99 years with immediate parole eligibility and to forward that recommendation to the governor. The recommendation does not release him automatically; if the governor signs a commutation, the parole process would determine any actual release.

Votes at a glance (summary)

- Willie Riley — denied (board cited victim opposition and seriousness of offense). - Amber Butler — denied (not unanimous; board noted near-term good-time release date). - Walter Aswell — denied (victim and DA opposition cited). - James Gladney — denied (historic violent offenses; strong opposition). - Charles Holmes — denied (seriousness of convictions; record reviewed). - Paul Harris — recommendation: commute to 99 years with immediate parole eligibility (board majority; forwarded to governor). - Bobby Knox — denied (DA and victim opposition; violent history). - Lamar Sanders — denied (victim and DA opposition; plea agreement noted). - Duane Sweat — denied (opposition from law enforcement; plea and sentence weight considered). - Charles Edwards — denied (board pointed to upcoming parole eligibility as the appropriate forum). - Derek Clayville — recommendation: commute to 99 years with immediate parole eligibility (board majority; forwarded to governor).

What’s next: Commutation recommendations (the two items above) must be transmitted to the governor, who may sign, deny or modify the recommendations. Any signed commutation that changes an inmate’s sentence to make them immediately parole eligible still requires a parole hearing and parole-board decision before release. For denied applicants, the usual routes remain (parole hearings at the scheduled eligibility dates or reapplication after additional time).

Meeting context and trends: The panels repeatedly balanced in-prison rehabilitation and education against victims’ statements and prosecutorial opposition. Board members repeatedly said they look for sustained programming, low disciplinary records and clear housing/employment plans in the community; when victims or DAs registered strong opposition, members said that often outweighed the applicant’s improvements.

Ending note: The board’s recommendations will be added to the governor’s clemency docket; affected inmates and victims may pursue the statutory and administrative processes that follow any final action by the governor or future parole board proceedings.