Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles denies many petitions, grants select paroles and pardons including a full pardon for Tawanda Sanders

The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles met Aug. 27, 2025, in Montgomery to consider a multi-item docket of parole and pardon petitions. Chair Hal Nash presided; Darryl Littleton and Gabrelle Simmons were present. The board recorded public comment from victims' relatives, advocates and victim services staff before ruling on each petition.

Board members denied a substantial number of parole requests and set reset dates in several cases. Examples recorded in the minutes include Donald Burr (AIS# 273277) — denied parole, reset Aug. 2030; Akeem Prewitt (AIS# 269160) — denied parole, reset Aug. 2030; Billy Justice (AIS# 258861) — denied parole, reset Mar. 2030; Vincent Forney (AIS# 156977) — denied, reset Aug. 2028; and multiple other denials with reset dates or no reset date specified.

The board granted parole in selected cases with conditions. Notable grants and conditions recorded in the minutes include:

- Harold Stallings (AIS# 207343): parole granted with conditions to complete mental health follow-up, wear a GPS ankle monitor, receive a referral to Redemption Earned for reentry assistance, undergo a drug assessment upon release, and have an approved home plan.

- George Lumpkin Jr. (AIS# 098286): parole granted with conditions including referral to Redemption Earned and GPS monitoring.

- Kenneth Akers (AIS# 106374): parole granted with conditions including an approved home plan, mental health follow-up, GPS monitoring, referral to Redemption Earned, and a drug assessment upon release.

- Wesley Whitney (AIS# 288170): parole granted with required completion of the Perry County Probation/Parole Reentry Education Program (PREP), GPS ankle monitor, mental health follow-up and drug assessment upon release.

- Calvin Fincher (AIS# 190257): granted parole with condition of detainer and/or program and an approved home plan.

- Richard Brown (AIS# 241048): granted parole with condition of placement in an approved halfway house, mental health follow-up, GPS ankle monitor and drug assessment upon release.

On pardons, the board recorded mixed outcomes. The board denied multiple pardon petitions but granted several, sometimes with restrictions. The minutes record these pardon outcomes:

- Tawanda Sanders (AIS# 826617): granted a full pardon with restoration of all civil and political rights.

- Robert Geter (AIS# 827565), David Sanders Jr. (AIS# 823529) and Wilbur Green (AIS# 827507): pardons granted with restrictions described as relief from the habitual offender act and firearms disabilities.

- David Self (AIS# 827470): granted a full pardon restoring civil and political rights.

Other pardon petitions were denied, including Ray Jones (AIS# 299334) and Barbara Grice (AIS# 306355).

The minutes record that victim representatives and advocates spoke at multiple hearings. Named commenters included Amy Smith (victim's mother), Nancy Chilson (victim's sister), Erica Branch and Tamara Branch (relatives), Venesha Bradley (VOCAL), and Jackie Fowler (Victim Services Office, Attorney General's Office). The minutes do not record vote tallies by individual board member for each docket item; outcomes are recorded as the board's decisions.

The board recessed for lunch from 12:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. and adjourned at 2:32 p.m. The minutes show the next meeting scheduled for Aug. 28, 2025, at 8:00 a.m.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in the board minutes): the docket lists many individual actions (denials with reset dates as noted above, paroles granted with the conditions previously summarized, and pardons granted or denied). For full itemized outcomes and AIS numbers, see the board's official minutes and docket lists filed with the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles.