11 Connecticut Inmates To Have Commutation Hearings, Board Votes

HARTFORD, CT —On Wednesday, the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Parole voted to allow 11 people to have commutation hearings next year to potentially reduce their sentences.

BOPP chairperson Carlton Giles and board members Mike Pohl and Deborah Smith-Palmieri voted to approve or deny the applications. The BOPP took several things into consideration when making their decision, including the individuals' ages at the time of the crime and whether or not the length of each sentence is consistent with current sentencing practices.

The following individuals had their request for a full hearing granted, board documents show. Each individual was under 25 years old at the time of the crime he was imprisoned for:

• Pedro Carrasquillo, age 34, incarcerated at Cheshire CI on a murder charge. Sentenced in 2005.
• Ernest Francis, 49, incarcerated at Robinson CI on a murder charge. Sentenced in 1992.
• Peter Gonda, 48, incarcerated at MacDougall-Walker on a murder charge. Sentenced in 1997.
• Benito Lugo, 46, incarcerated at Cheshire CI on a murder charge. Sentenced in 1995.
• Juan Maldonado, 52, incarcerated at Cheshire CI on a murder charge. Sentenced in 1997.
• Oscar Melendez, 42, incarcerated at MacDougall-Walker on a murder charge. Sentenced in 2001.
• Demetrius Miller, 49, incarcerated at MacDougall-Walker on a murder charge. Sentenced in 1998.
• Willie Myers, 47, incarcerated at Osborn CI on a murder charge. Sentenced in 1996.
• Moises Polanco, 40, incarcerated at Osborn CI on a murder charge. Sentenced in 2003.
• Carlos Rebollo, 36, incarcerated at MacDougall-Walker on an arson charge. Sentenced in 2000.
• Victor Smalls, 31, incarcerated at Cheshire CI on a murder charge. Sentenced in 2009.

Twelve applicants had their applications for commutation denied.

The commutation pre-screen meeting is available on YouTube at this link.