Louisiana parole board hears clemency docket; denies some pardons and recommends others to governor

The Committee on Parole convened Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, in Baton Rouge and processed a lengthy clemency docket that included in‑person and Zoom testimony from applicants, family members and prosecutors. The panel approved its Nov. 18 minutes, adopted a 3‑minute speaking rule for the day and then proceeded through a series of pardon requests; some were denied largely because of recent convictions or explicit law‑enforcement opposition, while others were recommended to the governor after board members cited long periods of lawful behavior and documented rehabilitation.

The board heard from applicants who described addiction, trauma and rehabilitation and from supporters who described community service and stable employment. In several cases, assistant district attorneys advised the panel of an internal guideline that favors a roughly 10‑year crime‑free “cleansing” period before recommending a pardon; Assistant District Attorney Randall Myers told the board his office “like[s] to see a 10 year cleansing period” before supporting clemency in many cases. Board members repeatedly balanced those timing concerns against applicants’ steps toward rehabilitation when casting their votes.

In the hearing’s opening business, Mrs. Stapleton moved to approve the Nov. 18 minutes; Mr. Tillis seconded and the board approved the minutes without objection. Mr. Freeman then moved to invoke a 3‑minute rule for all speakers for the day’s docket; the board approved that motion and proceeded.

Highlights from individual cases:

- David DiMaggio (DOC #733-465): DiMaggio and multiple supporters described steady employment and family responsibilities; Jefferson Parish prosecutors opposed the pardon because the most recent conviction is six years old and the DA’s office prefers a longer cleansing period. After interviews, Mr. Prater stated he would recommend denial and the board voted to deny the application. The chair told DiMaggio the board’s recommendation would be to deny the pardon, but he was encouraged to reapply after a longer crime‑free period.

- Jordan Darensberg (Orleans Parish case from 2003): The applicant described decades of post‑conviction rehabilitation, educational attainment and nonprofit work; family members and counsel spoke in support. Several board members said they saw sufficient rehabilitation and no recorded law‑enforcement opposition; the panel recommended a pardon (the record reflects a recommendation to grant, with board members specifying whether firearms restoration should accompany the pardon).

- Taylor Beckley (armed robbery accessory after the fact, sentenced in 2016): Beckley told the board she was young at the time, has been clean for nearly a decade and engaged in counseling. The board recommended a pardon without restoration of firearms, citing the 10‑year cleansing period and recent rehabilitation.

- Napoleon John Slann (1990s drug distribution convictions): Slann described decades of lawful behavior and family ties; board members noted the long passage of time and recommended a pardon with restoration of firearms for hunting and family reasons.

- Brandon Ray (possession of oxycodone, 2012): Ray described a post‑injury prescription episode, long sobriety and family responsibilities. With no opposition in the record and because the offense did not involve a firearm, the board voted to recommend a pardon with restoration of firearms.

- Damon Benoit (drive‑by shooting and related charges): Benoit’s file included a drive‑by shooting and explicit opposition from law enforcement and the district attorney; board members cited the firearm involved in the underlying offense and law‑enforcement opposition and voted to deny the pardon.

Votes at a glance (selected items recorded on the transcript): - Approval of Nov. 18 minutes: approved (motion by Mrs. Stapleton; second Mr. Tillis). - Motion to invoke 3‑minute rule for all speakers: approved (mover Mr. Freeman). - David DiMaggio (pardon with restoration of firearms): board recommendation — deny (4 votes to deny recorded in the transcript). - Jordan Darensberg (pardon; restoration status noted in record): board recommended pardon (majority recommendation; some members specified restoration of firearms while others recommended pardon without restoration). - Taylor Beckley (pardon): recommended to governor — grant without restoration of firearms. - Napoleon John Slann: recommended to governor — grant with restoration of firearms. - Brandon Ray: recommended to governor — grant with restoration of firearms. - Damon Benoit: denied (board cited law‑enforcement opposition and firearm involvement).

What happens next: The board’s recommendations are advisory; cases recommended for pardon are sent to the governor’s office for final action. Applicants denied today were told they may reapply and were offered guidance about waiting longer before resubmission in cases where board members cited insufficient cleansing periods. The board adjourned at about 1:15 p.m.; one applicant (Elizabeth Zachary) did not check in and was removed from the docket.

Note on sources and attributions: This story is based solely on the committee’s Dec. 16, 2024 transcript. Quotations and attributions (for example, Assistant DA Randall Myers’s statement about a 10‑year cleansing period and applicants’ direct remarks) are taken verbatim from the record; all named quotations in this piece come from speakers who appear on the hearing transcript.