California: Governor Newsom grants executive clemency in 25 cases, including posthumous pardon to Army veteran Sergeant Penry
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~ Sacramento, California - Governor Gavin Newsom has granted executive clemency in 25 cases, including a posthumous pardon to Army veteran Sergeant Richard Allen Penry. The announcement was made today, April 18, 2025, as the Governor granted a total of 16 pardons and 9 commutations.

Sergeant Penry, a California native born in Petaluma, served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and received the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism at the risk of his own life. However, upon returning from active duty, he struggled with reentry to civilian life and faced challenges such as limited resources for veterans and little understanding of PTSD. This led to substance use and criminal convictions.

In recognition of Sergeant Penry's service and struggles, Governor Newsom has granted him a posthumous pardon. "We greatly appreciate this action by Governor Newsom to pardon Medal of Honor recipient and California native Richard Allen Penry," said Keith Boylan, Undersecretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs. "This helps shine a light on the very real challenges some of our veterans face in transitioning to civilian life after they have bravely and selflessly served our nation."

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The request for Sergeant Penry's pardon came from a veteran's group in Sonoma County. "Thank you to Governor Newsom for his dedication to California's Veterans," said Andrew M. LeMarQuand, Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1929 and requester of the pardon. "As a retired U.S. Army Ranger Officer, I recognize the experiences of SGT Penry through my own combat service. If PTSD can impact a Medal of Honor recipient like SGT Penry, it can affect anyone."

The Governor's Office also encourages victims, survivors, and witnesses to register with CDCR's Office of Victims and Survivors Rights and Services to receive information about an incarcerated person's status. This is especially important in cases where the applicant has more than one felony conviction, as the Governor must first get the approval of the Board of Parole Hearings and the California Supreme Court.

Governor Newsom has granted a total of 224 pardons and 150 commutations while in office. The California Constitution gives the Governor the authority to grant clemency in the form of a pardon, commutation, or reprieve. However, in cases where there are multiple felony convictions, approval from both the Board of Parole Hearings and the California Supreme Court is required.

The Governor takes into consideration numerous factors when making clemency decisions, including an applicant's self-development and conduct since their offense and the impact of a grant on the community. Clemency is seen as a way to recognize rehabilitative change after conviction and incentivize accountability and rehabilitation for public safety.

For more information on executive clemency, please visit here.

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