Whitefish Bay Man Receives Pardon From Gov. Tony Evers

WHITEFISH BAY, WI — Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced today he pardoned 71 people across Wisconsin. One of the people who was pardoned lives in Whitefish Bay.

As Governor, Evers has the power to pardon people convicted of a crime. When people are convicted of a felony in Wisconsin, they lose the right to vote. The loss of rights, known as felony disenfranchisement, is similar across most of the U.S. except for two states.

In Wisconsin, people may have their voting rights restored only when a person completes their sentence or if they are pardoned. It's a right that the Whitefish Bay man had taken away when he was convicted in 1997.

The man also lost the right to hold public office, serve on a jury and hold certain licenses. The Governor's pardon restores many of the rights that felons lose upon conviction.

In 1997 the Whitefish Bay man was convicted of theft. He was in his late teens when he stole liquor from a distributor he worked for and used stolen credit cards for purchases, a news release said.

Since his conviction over 20 years ago when he lived in Glendale, the man has had four kids and is the owner of three small businesses. He now resides in Whitefish Bay.

"Hearing from any one of our pardon recipients, you'll hear stories of redemption, service to others and hope for the future," Evers said in a news release. "As I said when I reinstated the pardon board, I believe in forgiveness and the power of redemption, and I believe the people of Wisconsin do, too."

Many of the people pardoned were previously convicted of drug charges. Others had been convicted of armed robbery or theft, but the pardons are largely reserved for non-violent offenders. Evers has pardoned 263 people since 2019.

"A pardon is an official act of forgiveness that restores some of the rights that are lost when someone is convicted of a felony, including the right to serve on a jury, hold public office, and hold certain professional licenses. A pardon does not result in an expungement," the news release said.

Related:

Gov. Evers Grants 71 Pardons, Order To Expand Pardon Process