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Board denies Matthew Sawyer’s pardon after victim’s account of severe hit‑and‑run injuries
Summary
After a lengthy victim statement describing catastrophic injuries and ongoing medical needs, the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles voted to deny Matthew Sawyer an absolute pardon, citing the ongoing harm to the victim and concerns about minimization.
Matthew Sawyer appeared before the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles on Aug. 11, 2026, and acknowledged long‑ago convictions and efforts to remain sober. During the hearing, William Webster — the motorcyclist injured in the October 2004 collision central to Sawyer’s application — delivered a detailed victim impact statement describing prolonged unconsciousness, multiple surgeries and ongoing loss of earning capacity.
‘‘On that day, I was riding my motorcycle when I was struck by another vehicle… Instead of stopping to help and take responsibility, the driver fled the scene leaving me seriously injured,’’ Webster said in his statement to the panel. Board members debated Sawyer’s rehabilitation, the consistency of his account and the severity of the victim’s continuing needs. A motion to deny the absolute pardon passed by majority. The board recorded that its decision reflected the physical and financial impact on the victim and concern that a pardon would unduly diminish the seriousness of the offense.
