With 9 latest, Evers pardons 74 people in 1 year

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In the past year, Gov. Tony Evers revived the Pardon Advisory Board after a nine-year hiatus and granted pardons for 74 people.

Evers brought back the board in the summer of 2019 and granted his first pardons in October 2019. Former Gov. Scott Walker never issued a pardon during his eight years as governor.

The Governor’s Pardon Advisory Board now meets monthly to hear from applicants and make recommendations to Evers for final consideration. The board held a virtual meeting on Sept. 15, and Evers announced pardons for the following nine people on Thursday:

• Roxanne Johnson was 17 years old when she took checks from her grandfather. Now 42, she has since finished her high school education, started a family and lives in Grey Bull, Wyoming.
• Shawn Sill was 19 years old when he broke into homes in La Crosse and Vernon County. He was able to complete probation early, and his application received the support of the circuit court and district attorney’s office. Sill is now 42, lives with his wife and daughter in La Crosse, and works as a machine operator.
• Nichole Miller was a teenager when she participated in a string of offenses related to her drug use. This included a burglary with a friend into the home of an acquaintance to steal a checkbook. Since then, she obtained her bachelor’s degree, developed a career in academia and is an academic advisor with UW-Eau Claire. Her application came with significant community support, including from her former parole agent, counselors, professional supervisors and colleagues. Miller is 35 years old and lives in Eau Claire.
• Dennis Jimenez, now 63, was 20 years old when he and another individual broke into a business after hours. Since then, he has had a career as a truck driver and lives with his family in Moore Haven, Fla.
• Bonnie Gray, now 74 years old, was in her early 30s when she did not report income for a year, which resulted in an over-grant of public assistance. Since then, she obtained her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, volunteers with various non-profit and charitable organizations, and previously operated an adult family home in Milwaukee.
• Brandy Walker was 19 when she cashed fraudulent checks at a bank. At the time, she was struggling with housing security and pregnant with twins. She is now 31 and lives in Milwaukee with her children. A pardon would make it possible for her to establish a childcare business.
• Marcellete McFarland is 53 years old now, but when she was in her mid-twenties, she did not report an increase in her income, which resulted in an over-grant of public assistance. She completed probation early, obtained her GED and would like a pardon to be able to reopen a childcare business. She lives in Milwaukee.
• Wendy Bond, now 42 years old, was 24 when she called police to report a break-in. Once there, police found evidence of her significant other’s drug use and dealing. She has since obtained a degree in business management, opened her own business supporting adults with disabilities and lives in Milwaukee with her husband and child.
• Lon McEwen, now 46, was 25 years old when he fled in his vehicle while intoxicated and crashed the car in someone’s backyard. Since then, he obtained his CNA license and is working on his degree to become a substance-abuse counselor. He lives in Schofield.

In a statement, Evers said the people who have been pardoned are positively impacting their communities by pursuing new careers and serving their neighbors.

The Pardon Advisory Board’s next monthly meeting is on Oct. 13 starting at 8:30 a.m. It will be streamed live on WisconsinEye. Follow @WLJReporter