Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles grants multiple pardons, denies several and schedules hearings

The Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles met June 8, 2026, to review expedited prescreen and prescreen dockets and issued a mix of pardons, denials and hearing referrals.

Chair Robert Cizauskas opened the session and outlined the board's authority and processes, telling applicants: "If you are granted an absolute pardon today, it may take up to 10 weeks from the date of this hearing to erase your criminal history securely and safely from public record." He also noted that denials and hearing outcomes would be communicated by email.

The board began with a single certificate-of-employability review for Tracy Lane. Panel members discussed Lane's most recent conviction, the fact that restitution was paid in full, and her participation in in‑custody rehabilitation programs. After deliberation, the board "moved to grant a certificate of employability with the recommendation that Miss Lane not be employed in a position where she's responsible for financial transactions," a stipulation several members described as intended to bar positions that give a single employee control over money.

On the expedited docket, the board considered numerous pardon petitions. The panel denied a petition by Jeffrey Maquath, citing concerns that he minimized responsibility for multiple recent "engaging police in pursuit" convictions and that his criminal history included repetitive acts against persons or property. Chair Cizauskas summarized the reasons: "You minimize responsibility for your actions... At this time, public safety requires the official record of your criminal history to remain intact." The denial was unanimous.

By contrast, the panel granted a number of absolute pardons after members reviewed applicants' long periods without new convictions, employment stability, completion of treatment programs, letters of support, and demonstrated rehabilitation. Among those granted pardons were Kevin Czernowitz, Lorenzo Davis, Edsner Messador, Angel Nieves, Isaiah (Isaiah/Isaiah Pana entry read as Isaiah Pana) Pana, Romeo Garvin, Luis Montanez, Britannic Bowick (name read with apology for possible mispronunciation), Darshan Kumar Patel, Joshua Pelletier, Kevin Gonzalez, Octavio Moscat, Willie Myers, William Rodriguez, and others. Votes were recorded as aye by the chair and panel members when noted.

The board also used the prescreen docket to identify cases requiring victim outreach and in-person hearings. For example, Juan Cordero's application was denied after members flagged inconsistent statements in his application and his status on a registries list; the chair again cited minimizing responsibility and public-safety concerns in explaining the denial. Other applicants — including Fernando Delgado, Ciro Guerrero, James Lucarelli, Robin Riley, Nelson Adorno, Michelle Baranowski, Matthew Fox, Joel Shute, Michael Maresca, Lucas Patrick, Robert Rivera, Eddie Tosado and Dante Walker — were scheduled for full hearings to allow applicants to answer questions about sobriety, treatment participation, discrepancies between applications and official records, or victim impact.

Members repeatedly identified the patterns that prompted hearings: recent conviction dates, unresolved registry status, minimization of harm, inconsistent details between applications and official reports, and lack of documented community service or treatment engagement. Panel member Sergio Rodriguez and other members often recommended hearings when an applicant's story did not align with the record or when more information was needed to assess sobriety or rehabilitation.

The board concluded the docket at 10:19 a.m. and noted that applicants would be contacted with hearing dates or decisions. Chair Cizauskas emphasized process limits and timelines for record updates.

Votes at a glance - Certificate of employability granted for Tracy Lane with stipulation barring responsibility for financial transactions (unanimous). - Denied: Jeffrey Maquath (unanimous denial; board cited minimization of responsibility and public-safety concerns). - Denied: Juan Cordero (prescreen denial; cited registry status and minimizing responsibility). - Pardons granted (expedited docket, unanimous votes where recorded): Kevin Czernowitz; Lorenzo Davis; Edsner Messador; Angel Nieves; Isaiah Pana; Romeo Garvin; Luis Montanez; Britannic Bowick; Darshan Kumar Patel; Joshua Pelletier; Kevin Gonzalez; Octavio Moscat; Willie Myers; William Rodriguez; and others listed on the expedited packet. - Hearings scheduled: Ivona Patra; Wayne Swanson; Fernando Delgado; Ciro Guerrero; James Lucarelli; Robin Riley; Nelson Adorno; Michelle Baranowski; Matthew Fox; Joel Shute; Michael Maresca; Lucas Patrick; Robert Rivera; Eddie Tosado; Dante Walker.

What the board said about decision factors Panel members consistently emphasized the recency of convictions, evidence of rehabilitation (treatment completion, stable employment, letters of support), whether applicants had taken responsibility, and any ongoing risks tied to registries or weapons charges. As Chair Cizauskas put it during a denial: "At this time, public safety requires the official record of your criminal history to remain intact." Panel members also noted cases where letters from employers or family and long periods without new convictions weighed in favor of grants.

What happens next Applicants who were denied or scheduled for hearings will be notified by email with reasons or hearing dates. The board noted that, if granted, pardons can take up to 10 weeks to be reflected in some public records and that third-party background checks may continue to show historical information for a period after an official grant.