In a surprising move, Adrian Peeler, convicted in the 1999 Bridgeport murders of 8-year-old Leroy "B.J." Brown and his mother, Karen Clarke, is set to be released in July following a commutation by former President Biden. Peeler had served a 20-year state sentence for murder conspiracy and was serving a 15-year federal term for drug offenses. Clarke's family expressed outrage over the commutation, with Clarke's brother Oswald Clarke stating, "It's like we're being traumatized all over again."
Biden's commutations, announced Friday, focused on nonviolent drug offenders, citing overly harsh penalties under previous laws. However, no specifics were given on Peeler's inclusion. The decision has drawn criticism from Connecticut leaders, including Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, who questioned the pardon system's efficacy. State Sen. Stephen Harding criticized the clemency as "a slap in the face" to victims of violent crimes. Meanwhile, Peeler's lawyer noted his client's efforts toward rehabilitation, describing him as a reformed individual.
"Someone dropped the ball" is how Blumenthal, a Democrat, described Peeler being granted clemency. "This was a really vicious murder that changed our laws. It also highlights how we need to take a look at the pardon system to see how it can be improved," he said in a statement. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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