Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles grants pardons to 31 applicants, continues two cases

The Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles granted absolute pardons to 31 applicants and continued two cases at a hearing held remotely Oct. 1, 2025, chairperson Jennifer Medina Zaccagnini said.

The board met by Zoom and live-streamed the session. Applicants appeared with counsel or on their own, gave brief statements and answered questions about their records, sobriety and post-conviction rehabilitation. The Office of Victim Services provided victim input in multiple cases. The board’s votes are tentative pending final record checks by the Connecticut State Police Bureau of Identification, the hearing coordinator warned.

Why this matters: An absolute pardon, if finalized after record verification, can result in the erasure of a Connecticut criminal conviction from public records, a change that can affect employment, professional licensing, housing and other background-check outcomes. The board repeatedly cautioned applicants that granted pardons are not exonerations and are not final until state record checks are completed.

Board action and notable cases

The board’s agenda included more than three dozen applications. The panel granted absolute pardons in the following matters (summary list and vote):

Votes at a glance

- Gerald Migliaro — absolute pardon granted (unanimous). Attorney Selson spoke for the applicant; Mr. Migliaro told the board he regretted his actions and described the lasting impact of the victim’s death. Chair Jennifer Medina Zaccagnini announced the grant. (Vote recorded as unanimous.)

- John Green — absolute pardon granted (unanimous). Attorney Gordon Vidal and Mr. Green appeared. The board probed inconsistencies between Mr. Green’s police statements and later recantations; the victim’s family provided a direct statement expressing continuing pain and concern, then said they would leave the decision to the board. Board members discussed the long passage of time since the conviction, the applicant’s post‑conviction work in recovery and community service, and the family’s statements before voting to grant. (Vote recorded as unanimous.)

- Onyx Matos — absolute pardon granted (unanimous). Attorney Jamie Bell highlighted a long period of sobriety and steady work; the board discussed earlier DUI-related incidents and the applicant’s ongoing recovery supports. (Unanimous vote.)

- Edward Liley — absolute pardon granted (unanimous). Victim input…