Everybody who serves in public office leaves with at least one item of unfinished business. In my case, his name is Pete Parsons.
Those of us who graduated Fairfax High School in the mid-80’s will remember Pete as a big, fun-loving kid who played football and wrestled heavyweight for the Rebels. He was the life of the party. And, if you went to school in the Eighties, there were lots of parties. (ed. note: we were the last generation that enjoyed a non-digital youth).
We survived those days with a few scars and blurry memories, then moved on to raise our own families. But not everyone made it through.
In the case of Pete, he became addicted to cocaine, then committed a felonious assault in 2006 while he was high. The facts were not good, and it was an era where judges had little tolerance for crimes committed under the influence. He was convicted and sentenced to 26 years incarceration, more befitting a second-degree homicide.
Pete disappeared into the Dept of Corrections, where he got clean, got a degree, and eventually became a certified Peer Recovery Specialist. He is currently housed at the Green Rock Correctional Center in Chatham, Va. He’s served almost 19 years of his sentence, with 7 left to go – and now he’s 59 years old.
Pete would have been forgotten, but for our old coach Mitch “Coach Sut” Sutterfield, who kept in touch with Pete and got me involved, while I was in the Senate, to fight for Pete’s early release. For the past ten years, Coach Sut and I have written letters and made phone calls to Parole Board members and Governors (of both parties) to secure Pete’s early release – no dice, thus far.
Virginia abolished ordinary “parole” in 1995, which means that long-term offenders actually serve their sentence with only a small reduction, up to 15%, for “good time.” There is also “geriatric parole,” which allows prisoners at age 60+ to be released early if they have served the bulk of their sentence. The reasoning is that 60+ releases pose little threat to society. That’s it. Otherwise, 26 years means 26 years.
Of course, the Governor has the ability to short-circuit the process by issuing a “conditional pardon” to deserving prisoners. Last week, the Governor issued such a pardon to the police officer who shot and killed a fleeing suspect at Tysons Corner in 2022. Otherwise, this Governor has issued no pardons (yet).
Long-term incarceration carries a cost. It’s a cost to the taxpayer. It’s a cost to the individual who serves a sentence long, long after the crime occurred. At some point, enough is enough. I believe Pete reached that point long ago. It’s time to let him live free.
We have resubmitted Pete’s conditional pardon application to the Governor’s office. Everyone tell us – don’t expect good news. But you have to try. Failing that, I’m hopeful that his 60th birthday will bring him before the Parole Board for a “geriatric release.” Anyone who knows the facts of his case is supporting him. You have to have faith – and that’s all you can have sometimes.
In my last letter from Pete, he told me he just wants to put his toes in the Atlantic Ocean once he reaches the outside. That would be a nice gift if we could make it happen.
JCP Notes: I cannot talk about criminal justice reform, without mentioning a couple things: one, the General Assembly in 2025 did pass a bipartisan bill on “probation reform” which updates an outdated system and provides incentives for enrollees to “do the right thing.” Hopefully the Governor will sign this good legislation.
Second, I have to mention my friend and former constituent Sean Weneta, who was pardoned by Governor Northam in 2020 and has been a tireless advocate for justice-based causes like the probation reform bill. Unlike some advocates, Sean is a bridge-builder who brings people together. That type of positive energy is how things get done.
This article was republished from The Virginia Attorney.
