For Immediate Release
August 29, 2008
Contact: Martin Cothran
Phone: 859-329-1919
"We don't remember seeing 'voting rights for convicted pedophiles' among Steve Beshear's campaign promises last fall," said Martin Cothran, spokesman for The Family Foundation in response to yesterday's news that the Governor had given a partial pardon to former head of the Micro City Government, youth director Ron Berry.
Gov. Beshear restored the right to vote and the right to run for office to Ron Berry, who was convicted of 12 counts of sodomy with underage boys in the 1970s and 80s (and was accused of many more) while he was running the Micro City program. Critics at the time charged that four Democratic administrations had covered up Berry's activities .
"Before, it was local officials turning a blind eye to Berry's abuse of children. Now he's getting favorable treatment from state government," said Cothran.
The Governor's Office responded to objections to the partial pardon by saying that it is their policy is to automatically restore civil rights when applicants "have served their sentence, paid restitution and have no outstanding warrants."
"Maybe the Governor's Office could inform the families who were affected by Berry's depredations how he has paid restitution," said Cothran. "Quite frankly, this is just a strange argument."
"Basically what the Governor's Office is saying is that we shouldn't be concerned about the fact that he has given a partial pardon to one convicted pedophile who serves a little time because his policy is to give it to all of them."
"The other argument coming out of the Governor's Office is that this partial pardon is okay because no one objected. Maybe we missed it, but we don't remember Beshear asking about this at any of his town meetings."
Friday, August 29, 2008
4 comments:
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It's bad enough he is convicted pedophile. But he wasn't hanging around playgrounds to get victims. He was using his governmental position to be able to sexually abuse children. This is just so wrong.
ReplyDeleteBeshear needs to forget about being a two term governor. God help us all if Stumbo somehow uses this to get the dem ticket.
Hmmm... I don't see any "family groups" in this post.
ReplyDeleteMy theory - Beshear probably read (or misread) some things about how easily some Catholic priest pedophiles got off, and figured he'd better toss some leniency Berry's way, lest the ACLU sue him on Establishment Clause grounds.
That's our governor. Could be worse - we could be having exorcisms before the pre-Derby Governor's breakfast.
At least Beshear isn't using his pardon power to cover-up his own crimes, like the last governor.
ReplyDeleteMartin was misleading in his quote. Beshear said that Berry is being treated just like every other criminal who has served their sentence and paid restitution-Martin's "favorable treatment" comment implies Berry is getting a special deal. As a matter of general policy, Beshear's policy is correct-if we want released prisoners to become productive members of society rather than return to crime, we have to reintegrate them into society, and not treat them like scum whom we expect nothing but the worst from.
Beshear's action does nothing to endanger children-Berry has already been released. Its not as though Berry is likely to encounter a child in a voting booth.
kycobb: Beshear said that Berry is being treated just like every other criminal who has served their sentence and paid restitution-Martin's "favorable treatment" comment implies Berry is getting a special deal.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering how unusual Berry's treatment is. Thanks for supplying the relevant info.
jah