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Alabama parole board denies multiple parole requests, grants several pardons and sets reentry conditions
Summary
At its Oct. 28, 2025 meeting in Montgomery, the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles denied numerous parole requests with reset dates through 2030, granted several full and restricted pardons, and approved paroles with reentry conditions including PREP participation and GPS monitoring.
The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles met in Montgomery on Oct. 28, 2025, and issued a mix of denials, paroles with conditions and pardons. Chair Hal Nash presided with Associate Members Darryl Littleton and Gabrelle Simmons present; Nicole Lewis recorded the board's actions.
The board approved the Oct. 23, 2025 meeting minutes. It also amended special conditions for two individuals by board order: for Marco Carson (AIS 207400) the board removed the requirement to "abide by the Board's residential facility (PREP)" and substituted residence in a halfway house; for William Culver (AIS 223521) the board removed the "ATEF" condition and added completion of a Pre-Therapeutic Community Program.
On the daily docket the board denied parole for a number of applicants after hearing supporters and victims' representatives. For example, the board denied parole for Yendor T. Smith (AIS 261026) after in-person statements by his mother, Carolyn Smith, and sister Nikitris Smith, and opposition from Bonita Smith (victim's sister), Tiffany King (victim's god-sister), Bill Lisenby of VOCAL and Sarah Deneve of the Attorney General's Office; the board set a reset date of October 2029. The board likewise denied parole for Robbie S. Orr (AIS 274901) and Timothy E. Bess (AIS 251025) with reset dates in October 2028; both cases included family supporters and opposition remarks from VOCAL and the Attorney General's Office.
The board granted parole to several applicants with specific reentry conditions. Marcus F. Miller (AIS 144177) was granted parole with a set of conditions including completion of the Perry County Probation/Parole Reentry Education Program (PREP), placement in an approved halfway house, GPS ankle monitoring, mental-health follow-up, a drug assessment upon release and referral to Alabama Appleseed for reentry assistance. Travis L. West (AIS 333865) received parole with similar conditions and required participation in NA/AA.
Pardon decisions included multiple full pardons restoring civil and political rights: Maurice D. Russell (AIS 276986), Eddie L. Grant (AIS 827709), Donnie L. Jordan (AIS 260912), Dydrain D. Howard (AIS 827730) and Edward E. Banks Jr. (AIS 262111) were each granted full pardons. The board granted restricted pardons (relief from the habitual-offender statute and firearms disabilities) to Duantae S. Jones (AIS 231501) and Joshua L. Miller (AIS 290446). Other pardon requests were denied, including George D. Chestang Jr. (AIS 827666) and Brian M. Freeman (AIS 827699).
Speakers for and against individual cases commonly included family members, attorneys and representatives from VOCAL and the Attorney General's Office; those participants were recorded in the docket entries but the transcript contains no extended verbatim quotes. Where the docket records specific conditions, the board's written board orders (attached to the docket) supply the precise language used for modified or newly imposed conditions.
The board reviewed a list of delinquent files but the transcript records no specific actions stemming from that review. The meeting adjourned at 12:54 p.m. The board's next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 29, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. at 301 South Ripley Street in Montgomery.
Votes at a glance (selected items): - Denied parole: Yendor T. Smith (reset Oct. 2029); Robbie S. Orr (reset Oct. 2028); Timothy E. Bess (reset Oct. 2028); multiple others with reset dates through 2030. - Granted parole with conditions: Marcus F. Miller (PREP, halfway house, GPS, mental health follow-up, drug assessment, referral to Alabama Appleseed); Travis L. West (PREP, halfway house, NA/AA, GPS, mental health follow-up, drug assessment). - Full pardons granted: Maurice D. Russell; Eddie L. Grant; Donnie L. Jordan; Dydrain D. Howard; Edward E. Banks Jr. - Restricted pardons granted (habitual-offender/firearm relief): Duantae S. Jones; Joshua L. Miller.
The board's official orders attached to the docket provide additional administrative detail and the meeting record identifies attendees and who spoke for or against each docketed applicant.
