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Gov. Brown issues 91 Christmas pardons
California Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced on Christmas Eve that he has granted 91 pardons.
The individuals granted pardons all completed their sentences and have been released from custody for more than a decade without further criminal activity.
Individuals who have been convicted of a crime in California may apply to the governor for a pardon.
All applicants for a pardon who were eligible obtained a certificate of rehabilitation, which is an order from a superior court declaring that a person convicted of a crime is now rehabilitated.
A gubernatorial pardon may be granted to people who have demonstrated exemplary behavior and have lived productive and law-abiding lives following their conviction.
Pardons are not granted unless they are earned.
When a pardon is granted, the California Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are notified so that they may update their records on the applicant.
The pardon is filed with the Secretary of State's Office and the Legislature, and it is a public record.
The majority of the cases involved drug-related convictions. Other crimes for which pardons were granted included burglary, robbery, driving under the influence causing injury, grand theft, manslaughter, vandalism, arson, kidnapping, receiving stolen property, conspiracy, carjacking, possession of a firearm or ammunition by a felon, carrying a concealed weapon, being an accessory after the fact, writing insufficient funds checks, forgery, vehicle theft, having a fraudulent ID, assault with a deadly weapon, bribery, perjury, attempted voluntary manslaughter, possession or manufacturing a dangerous weapon, making fraudulent insurance claims and violation of securities law.
Among the individuals to receive pardons this year was actor Robert Downey Jr., who was sentenced in November 1996 in Los Angeles Superior Court for possession of a controlled substance, carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle with a prior conviction, driving under the influence with priors, and use or being under the influence of a controlled substance.
He served two years and eight months on probation, one year and three months in prison and two years on parole, and was discharged in December 2002. He returned to acting and since that time has enjoyed a successful career in the industry.
No former or current Lake County residents were included in this round of Christmas pardons, however, several cases from neighboring counties and other parts of Northern California did make the list:
– Napa: Dwight Castimore, now a resident of Minnesota, sentenced on Jan. 31, 1991, in Napa County Superior Court for driving under the influence causing bodily injury. He served eight months in prison and 11 months on parole.
– Robert Mahoney, who still lives in California, was sentenced in December 1999 in Tehama County Superior Court for arson of a structure or forest land and causing fire of a structure or forest land. Case information said Mahoney was present while another man set grass fires. He served 180 days in jail and five years' probation.
– David McBath, who still lives in California, was sentenced in May 1991 in Tehama County Superior Court for the crime of possession of a controlled substance for sale. He served 120 days in jail and three years' probation.
– Jeffrey Swank of California was sentenced in April 1995 in Napa County Superior Court for possession of a controlled substance. He served 190 days in jail and three years' probation.
– James Taylor of California was sentenced in Butte County Superior Court in August 1999 for driving under the influence with injury. He served nine months in prison and three years' parole.
– David Theissen of California was sentenced in Siskiyou County Superior Court in August 1978 for assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer. A police officer was called to settle a family dispute and Thiessen's gun discharged into the ground while he was speaking with the officer. He served 10 days in jail and two years' probation.
– William Wylie, now living in Washington state, was sentenced in Sonoma County Superior Court in June 1965 for forgery. He altered an $8 money order and cashed it for $80. He served one year and six months in prison, and one year and six months on parole.