Governor Evers issues first commutations in decades

MADISON, Wis. - Outgoing Gov. Tony Evers issued the state's first commutations in decades. That includes 10 convicted of homicide.

The last governor to issue a commutation was Gov. Tommy Thompson. Now, with just over 50 days left in office, Evers issued 14.

Commutations breakdown

By the numbers:

One prisoner was granted immediate release.

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The other 13 had reductions in either prison time, and/or supervision time, and/or are eligible for parole earlier.

The 14 prisoners were convicted of these crimes:

• Homicide: 10 prisoners
• Robbery/Burglary: 5 prisoners
• Drugs: 1 prisoner
• Arson: 1 prisoner

The process

What To Know:

Gov. Evers re-started the commutation process this year, his final year in office.

Before getting a commutation, the prisoners had to file applications, and then testify to a commutation advisory board, which questioned the prisoner in public sessions, and also invited testimony from victims and victims’ families.

The board then made recommendations to the governor. His office says the board was to take into account things like: the impact of a commutation on victims, the community and public safety. They are also to consider the prisoner’s behavior and personal growth in prison.

The final decision was up to Evers.

On Friday, Nov. 13, the governor issued the state’s first commutations in decades.

Michael Maldonado's case

The backstory:

In 1995, a judge sentenced Michael Maldonado to life in prison for homicide. He was then eligible for parole in 2044.

Gov. Evers’ commutation reduced that prison time. Now, Maldonado will serve four more years in prison and then have parole for the rest of his sentence.

Maldonado was 15 when he was convicted in 1995 in a murder-for-hire case in Jefferson County. A school librarian was convicted of hiring students to kill her husband. Maldonado’s cousin originally said Maldonado pulled the trigger, but later admitted he actually did. Maldonado testified to the commutation advisory board this summer that he bought the gun used in the homicide.

"I can’t even image the emotional suffering and heartache that was placed on that family because of this traumatic event. After three decades, I had the opportunity to speak with the family in person, and it was evident that their emotional turmoil continues to through to this day. The harsh impact that they have had to live with is clear from the emotions that spread across each one of their faces," Michael Maldonado told the commutation board during an August hearing.

All commutations

All the commutations:

-Sharif Green

• Conviction: Possess with Intent-Cocaine and Possess with Intent-Heroin
• Sentence: 20 years of prison and 10 years supervision
• Now: will serve three more years in prison and six years of supervision

-Mighty Howell

• Conviction: First-Degree Intentional Homicide Party to a Crime and Attempted Armed Robbery
• Sentence: Life imprisonment with parole eligibility in 2038
• Now: eligible for parole in September 2027

-Sammy Cole

• Conviction: Armed Robbery with Threat of Force
• Sentence: 35 years of prison and 10 years of supervision
• Now: four more years of prison and then 10 years of supervision.

Michael Maldonado

• Conviction: 1st-Degree Intentional Homicide
• Sentence: Life imprisonment with parole eligibility in 2044.
• Now: Maximum of four more years of prison and then parole for rest of sentance

Daniel Cerney

• Conviction: Two counts of 1st-Degree Intentional Homicide, Armed Robbery
• Sentence: Two concurrent life sentences with parole eligibility in 2044
• Now: eligible for parole in August 2030.

Amanda Weaver

• Conviction: Five counts of Burglary
• Sentence: 30 years of prison and 20 years supervision.
• Now: Immediate release and two years of supervision

Sabir Wilcher

• Conviction: First Degree Intentional Homicide,
• Sentence: Life imprisonment with parole eligibility in 2025
• Now: A maximum of three more years of prison, then parole

Touissant Harley

• Conviction: 1st-Degree Murder
• Sentence: Life in prison with parole eligibility in 2027
• Now: Parole no later than June 1, 2027

Wazir El-Amin (Wade Curtis)

• Conviction: First Degree Intentional Homicide with Dangerous Weapon
• Sentence: Life imprisonment, with parole eligibility in 2028
• Now: Eligible for parole immediately

Casey Fisher

• Conviction: First Degree Intentional Homicide/Robbery
• Sentence: Life imprisonment, parole eligible in 2049
• Now: Elgible for parole in 2039

Robert Patterson

• Conviction: 2nd-Degree Intentional Homicide
• Sentence: 27 years of prison and 18 years supervision
• Now: He’s served 24 years, and now will serve the rest of the three years with 10 years supervision

DeQuelvin Douglas

• Conviction: 1st-Degree Intentional Homicide and Attempted 1st-Degree Intentional Homicide
• Sentence: Life imprisonment, with a parole eligibility date of 2056
• Now: Eligible for parole in 2029

Harlan Schwartz

• Conviction: Arson of Building/ Molotov Cocktail
• Sentence: 37 years of prison and 18 years supervision
• Now: Prison until March 2027, then supervision for 12 years

Dawn Dobbs

• Conviction: First Degree Intentional Homicide
• Sentence: Life imprisonment with a parole eligibility date in 2035
• Now: Eligible for parole in November 2026; certain parole in 2029

The governor’s office said prosecuting district attorney's offices supported the commutations for: Wilcher, Harley, and Dobbs. While some victims or victims’ families supported the actions of Harley, Wilcher, Cerney, Dobbs, and Schwartz. Correctional officers backed the commutations for Howell, Maldonado, Patterson, Schwartz and Douglas.

Dig deeper:

The Wisconsin Constitution gives the governor power to issue pardons and commutations.

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What's the difference between the two? Evers gives a pardon after someone has served their time and supervision. A commutation can cut a sentence that is currently being served.

Evers' office said he issued the most pardons in state history with 2,443.

What they're saying:

The governor's executive order in April set up the commutation process and laid out his rationale for restating it.

"The availability of executive clemency reflects a recognition that individuals are capable of rehabilitation, redemption, and can earn a second chance," said Governor Evers in his April executive order. "The granting of commutations promotes rehabilitation by providing a system that rewards the positive efforts of incarcerated individuals who demonstrate personal growth and a commitment to change with the possibility of a second chance to contribute to society, become productive members of their communities, make amends, and improve their lives and those of the people around them."

Response from State Sen. Van Wanggaard

The other side:

Republican State Senator Van Wanggaard criticized the governor’s commutations:

"The arrogance of Governor Evers to overrule Judges, District Attorneys and victims is absurd.  ‘No Kings?’ Like Hell. This is the even more king-like than raising taxes for four hundred years," said Wanggaard. "These aren’t ‘non-violent offenses’ that Evers commuted. They killed people. They traumatized victims, families, and communities. They were prosecuted by elected District Attorneys, and sentenced by elected judges, almost all of which opposed any commutation. Instead, lame duck Governor Evers and his unelected cronies think they know better than the people involved. It’s disgusting."

Portions of this article were formatted using A.I. FOX6’s Jason Calvi and an editor reviewed it for accuracy and tone prior to publishing.