Governor Asa Hutchinson this week announced his intent to grant 42 pardons, three restorations of firearm rights only, and two commutations. 

The applicants intended for pardons have completed all jail time, fulfilled all parole and probationary requirements and paid all fines related to their sentences. There is a 30-day waiting period to receive public feedback on the notices before final action is taken.

Among the governor’s 42 pardon considerations are the following with connections to Southwest Arkansas:

Roy E. Johnson (Sparkman): Terroristic Threatening 1st Degree (D Felony) (CR-96-55). This notice is issued based on the date of convictions (1996 – Clark County), the fact that all terms of the applicant’s sentence have been completed and there have been no further criminal-law violations. There are no law enforcement objections to the application.

Dale Gulley (Prescott): Possession of a Controlled Substance (Misdemeanor) (CR-1992-1430), Possession of a Controlled Substance-Cocaine (C Felony), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (C Felony) (CR-96-56), Possession of a Controlled Substance-Cocaine (C Felony), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (C Felony) (CR-96-56) (probation revocation). This notice is issued based on the date of conviction (1992 – Nevada County, 1997 – Nevada County, and 2000 – Nevada County), the fact that all terms of the applicant’s sentence have been completed and there have been no further criminal-law violations. There are no law enforcement objections to the application.

Franklin E. Moss (Palmetto, FL): Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card (A Misdemeanor) (CR 89-71-4) and Possession of a Controlled Substance (C Felony) (CR 89-189). This notice is issued based on the dates of conviction (1989 – Hempstead County), the fact that all terms of the applicant’s sentence have been completed and there have been no further Arkansas criminal-law violations. There are no law enforcement objections to the application.

James F. Pender (Pearcy): Possession of a Controlled Substance (C Felony) (CR 2001-398), Manufacturing a Controlled Substance (Y Felony) (CR 01-807), Possession of a Controlled Substance (C Felony), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia w/Intent to Manufacture Meth (B Felony) (CR 2001-794). This notice is issued based on the date of conviction (2002 – Garland County), the fact that all terms of the applicant’s sentence have been completed and there have been no further criminal-law violations. There are no law enforcement objections to the application.

In addition, Hutchinson intends to grant a commutation of sentence to the following people:

Samuel Billingsley (ADC #056913): Murder-1st Degree (Unclassified Felony) (1965-4805) and Burglary (B Felony) (1965-4810). According to magnoliareporter.com, Billingsley killed a liquor store owner over a $14.80 discrepancy in a paycheck the owner cashed for him. The governor has given notice of his intent to commute the sentence of Samuel Billingsley, who was convicted in Ouachita County in 1965 for the above offenses, from a total of Life plus 5 years to serve in the Department of Correction to making him immediately parole eligible. There are no law enforcement objections to the applicant’s request.