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Title: Victory for Missouri man, 62, famously serving LIFE in prison over 'three strikes and out' marijuana offenses as Governor commutes his sentence after 21 years in jail
Source:
Daily Mail Online
URL Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art ... overnor-commutes-sentence.html
Published: May 23, 2015
Author: Kieran Corcoran
Post Date: 2015-05-23 08:29:43 by cranky
Keywords: None
Views: 417
Comments: 3
Long-suffering: Jeff Mizanskey, 62, has been in prison since 1993 because of marijuana A Missouri prisoner who has spent 21 years behind bars for marijuana offenses with no chance of parole could now be freed within months. Jeff Mizanskey, 62, was booked into jail in 1993 after being arrested in a sting operation, and has been locked up ever since. But after years of campaigning, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon agreed to commute his sentence to life with possibility of parole - meaning prison authorities can now set him free. Mizanskey was given the stiff punishment because he already had two drug convictions when he was last sentenced. Under Missouri's tough anti-drug statues, since amended, he was classed as a 'persistent drug offender' and subject to much harsher sentences. Nixon stopped short of granting clemency, which would have seen Mizanskey freed directly. In a statement Friday, he said: 'my action provides Jeff Mizanskey with the opportunity to demonstrate that he deserves parole'. A petition asking Nixon to pardon the prisoner had attracted 391,000 signatures. Campaigners often pointed out that the hefty punishment was becoming more difficult to justify as other states liberalize their drug laws, and even legalize marijuana entirely. Campaign: Almost 400,000 people asked Nixon to pardon Mizanskey, who is pictured above with his son, Chris Mizanskey's image would often be juxtaposed with those of criminals who had been given softer sentences for violent crimes. In a local TV interview from prison last year, Mizanskey himself said: 'I've spent a third of my life here in prison now. They let people out with rapes and murders and child molestation.' The third conviction came after police said Mizanskey conspired to sell 6 pounds of pot to a dealer connected to Mexican drug cartels. His previous felonies were for possession and sale of marijuana in 1984 and possession in 1991. Friday night, Mizanskey's son Chris, 37, shared his jubilation. He said: 'It's amazing. To be able to talk to him, to be able to sit here and have a conversation with him. Family: Mizanskey is pictureed above, second from left, with his son Chris, left, his niece Penny, center right, and his brother-in-law, Junior, during a food visit 'To have my son sit on his lap, for him to be a part of his grandkid's life, our lives, my whole family. I mean really words can't even describe it.' His family argue that he has been a 'model prisoner' during the incarceration, so stands a good chance of being released. He is the only prisoner in the state serving life for a non-violent marijuana conviction. At the same time as commuting Mizanskey's sentence, Nixon also pardoned five nonviolent offenders he said had completed their sentences and demonstrated an ability to turn their lives around. Nixon pardoned Michael Derrington, a substance abuse counselor who had a misdemeanor marijuana possession conviction; Nicole Lowe, a loan officer who was convicted of misdemeanor stealing; Bill Holt, a former school bus driver convicted of misdemeanor non-support; Doris Atchison, who was convicted of misdemeanor stealing; and Earl Wolf, who was convicted of misdemeanor burglary and larceny. 
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#1. To: cranky (#0)
(Edited)
Guidelines and sentencing laws in most states are tough on repeat offenders, as they should be. While punishing the repeat offender more is a good thing, the “3 strikes” laws are overkill.
No. Because he was a drug dealer. Arrested and convicted a number of times for felony drug distribution. He knew the law, yet refused to follow it.
He knew the law, yet refused to follow it. Ah ha ... After reading your post, I go check and see that "he conspired to sell pot to a dealer connected to Mexican drug cartels." Oh, crap....the edit time has expired on my Post #1. Damn, I really do hate yellow journalism.
'three strikes and out'
#2. To: cranky (#0)
"Long-suffering: Jeff Mizanskey, 62, has been in prison since 1993 because of marijuana"
#3. To: misterwhite, cranky (#2)
Long-suffering: Jeff Mizanskey, 62, has been in prison since 1993 because of marijuana" No. Because he was a drug dealer. Arrested and convicted a number of times for felony drug distribution.
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