South Raleigh News

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has commuted the sentence of convicted murderer, Darnell Cherry Jr., and pardoned four ex-offenders. Cooper's decisions were influenced by what he describes as the individuals' efforts towards rehabilitation and "civic behavior."

Fox News reports that Cooper stated the four pardons resulted from the offenders demonstrating 'responsible civic behavior and community service' after their convictions. The individuals pardoned include Portia Bright Pittman, who was convicted of accessory after the fact to armed robbery in Orange County in 2008 at age 22; W. Samuel Fagg, convicted of possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine in Wake County in 2002 at age 21; Tramayne Hinton, convicted of robbery in Perquimans County in 1998 at age 16; and Flemming Ragas, who was convicted of breaking and entering, larceny, and possession of stolen goods in Lee and Cumberland counties in 1999 at age 20. Cooper issued "pardons of forgiveness" to these four individuals.

According to another Fox News report, Darnell Cherry Jr., aged 42, who was convicted in 1999 for second-degree murder, burglary, and related charges connected to the death of Robert Earl Edwards Jr. and the robbery and shooting of Sonja Williams in Bertie County, also received a commutation. This information was verified by Governor Cooper's office and state correction records. This action altered Cherry's projected release date which had been previously set for 2035.

A UNC School of Government article explains that there is a distinction between 'pardons of forgiveness' and 'pardons of innocence.' While pardons of forgiveness offer leniency for offenses without nullifying convictions, pardons of innocence legally declare individuals innocent. Pardons of forgiveness seemingly limit the use of convictions in future legal proceedings. A "pardon of forgiveness" does not erase the conviction or declare innocence; instead, it symbolizes forgiveness for the offense committed, often highlighting the completion of the sentence or a reduction in punishment.

In a press release from Cooper's office, the Governor said: "All of these individuals are deserving of clemency and we will continue to work to protect our communities and improve the fairness of our criminal justice system."