Huckabee Pardoned Suspected Shooter of 4 Police Officers

Maurice Clemmons has been identified as the man wanted for questioning for the murder of four police officers killed in an ambush in Lakewood near McCord AFB, WA. Clemmons was previously convicted of five felonies in his home state Arkansas and has been charged with eight felonies in Washington state.

Telegraph UK reports:  In 1989, Clemmons, then aged 17, was convicted in Little Rock for aggravated robbery. He was paroled in 2000 after Mr Huckabee commuted Clemmons' 35-year prison sentence. Mr Huckabee, who took criticism during his run for the Republican presidential nomination for the number of pardons he issued, cited Clemmons' age at the time of the sentence. See also local story on police officers: Slain Lakewood Police Officers Were Four of City's Best

Video Background on Shooting:
CNN Reports: Clemmons, 37, of Pierce County has an "extensive violent criminal history from Arkansas, including aggravated robbery and theft," the sheriff's department said in a statement. . . . Clemmons was sentenced to 95 years in prison in 1989 for a host of charges, including robberies, burglaries, thefts and bringing a gun to school. . . .

Huckabee cited Clemmons' young age -- 17 at the time of his sentencing -- when he announced his decision to commute the sentence, according to newspaper articles. Clemmons was paroled in August 2000, after serving 11 years of his sentence. "It was not something I was pleased with at the time," said Larry Jegley, who prosecuted Clemmons for aggravated robbery and other charges in Pulaski County, Arkansas. "I would be most distressed if this is the same guy."

Huckabee's office said Clemmons' commutation was based on the recommendation of the parole board that determined that he met the conditions for early release. "He was arrested later for parole violation and taken back to prison to serve his full term, but prosecutors dropped the charges that would have held him," the statement said.

CNN could not immediately confirm the account. But the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper reported that a year after his release, Clemmons was arrested for aggravated robbery and theft. He was taken back to prison for parole violation. But, said the paper, he was not served with the arrest warrants for the robbery and theft charges until he left prison three years later, in 2004.

His attorney argued the charges should be dismissed because too much time had passed by then. Prosecutors dropped the charges. Clemmons is thought to have moved to Washington that year, and for a while ran a pressure-washing and landscaping business. The license for the business expired last month, according to the secretary of state's office, with which businesses have to register.

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Unfortunately, making decision whether or not to grant pardons and clemency is a difficult decision for Governors. Former Governor Mike Huckabee has been criticized before for pardons of individuals who went on to murder, rape or harm other people. Until now the most infamous situation involved Wayne Dumond. This situation was previously reported on in a Jan 12, 2008 story: Review of Mike Huckabee & Wayne Dumond Issue

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