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Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles denies most paroles, grants several pardons and reopens one case
Summary
At its Feb. 12, 2026 meeting in Montgomery the board denied parole for a majority of docketed inmates, set reset dates in many denials, granted several pardons (including full restorations of civil and political rights), and reopened Leon B. Hotchkiss’s case before approving parole with special conditions.
The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles on Feb. 12, 2026, in Montgomery denied parole for the majority of individuals on its daily docket, set future reset dates in multiple cases, and granted a series of pardons including several full restorations of civil and political rights. Chair Hal Nash presided; Board Member Gabrelle Simmons and Board Secretary Nicole Lewis were also present.
Under authority of Alabama Code, Title 15, Chapter 22, the board reviewed scheduled parole and pardon requests and heard supporters and opponents in individual cases. Family members and advocates spoke for several applicants; victim advocates from VOCAL and a victim services representative from the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, most frequently Ky’Toria Lawson (VOCAL) and India Eaves (Victim Services Officer, Attorney General’s Office), spoke in opposition on multiple cases.
Key decisions and notable actions included:
• Denials with reset dates and no-reset outcomes — The board recorded denials of parole across much of the docket, often scheduling next eligibility or reset dates ranging from Feb. 2026 to Feb. 2031, and in several cases recording denials with no reset date set. Examples include Byron Bonner (AIS# 219930) denied with a reset date recorded as Feb. 2031; Randall L. Thomas (AIS# 288528) denied with a reset date of Feb. 2028; and Ricardo L. Webb (AIS# 221316) denied with a reset date of Feb. 2027. Where the minutes listed no reset date, the board recorded that the individual has no scheduled next parole consideration.
• Pardons granted — The board granted several pardons. Thomas J. Dunham (AIS# 286335) received a full pardon restoring all civil and political rights. The board also granted pardons to Raymond X. Theriault (AIS# 827830) and Christopher M. Green (AIS# 828012) restoring civil and political rights; other pardons were granted with specific restrictions, such as relief from the habitual-offender act and relief from firearms disabilities in cases including Dakota L. Beasley (AIS# 318342) and Joshua D. Davis (AIS# 828006).
• Reopened case and conditions imposed — Board Member Gabrelle Simmons moved to reopen the hearing for Leon B. Hotchkiss (AIS# 287596) to allow additional testimony from Scott Fuqua of Alabama Appleseed; Chair Hal Nash did not object. After additional testimony the board voted to grant parole for Hotchkiss with special conditions that the minutes list as coordination with a detainer and/or program, GPS ankle monitoring, mental health follow-up, a drug assessment upon release, and coordination with the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs and Alabama Appleseed.
• Administrative business — The board approved the minutes from its Feb. 11, 2026 meeting by majority vote and reviewed lists of files for revocation and delinquent parolee files as part of routine administrative business.
The board adjourned at 1:19 p.m. and scheduled its next public meeting for Feb. 17, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. at 301 South Ripley Street in Montgomery. The minutes do not include roll-call vote tallies for individual docket votes beyond the motions noted for approval of minutes and adjournment.
