TribBlog: Merry Christmas, You're Pardoned

Gov. Rick Perry today announced pardons for eight Texans who were convicted of relatively minor offenses, most of them decades ago. All of the pardoned were under the age of 35 at the time of their crimes, which ranged in seriousness from marijuana possession to theft.

Here's the full list of pardons:

     · Christopher Brandon O’Callaghan, 33, of Houston, was convicted of criminal mischief and theft in 1996 at the age of 19. He was sentenced to one year in jail for the first offense and 90 days in jail for the second offense. He has served in the U.S. Army for more than four years. He is granted a full pardon and restoration of firearm rights.
     · Joshua Daniel Stubbs, 28, of Hillsboro, Ore., was convicted of criminal mischief in 1999 at the age of 17. He was sentenced to two years in jail, which was probated for five years, and a $1,500 fine, and paid $3,468.51 restitution. He has served in the U.S. Army for more than five years. He is granted a full pardon and restoration of firearm rights.
     · Paul Levi Engle, 57, of Odessa, was convicted of burglary in 1986 at the age of 32. He was sentenced to a four-year probated sentence, paid $250 restitution and was released from probation after three years. He is granted a full pardon.
     · Allison Renee Allison, formerly Allison Coleman, 46, of DeSoto, was convicted of theft in 1985 at the age of 21. She was sentenced to 30 days in jail, which was probated for 12 months, and given a $400 fine. She is granted a full pardon.
     · Genevieve O’Neil Francis, 63, of Houston, was convicted of unlawfully carrying a handgun at the age of 32. She was sentenced to three days in jail and a $50 fine. She is granted a full pardon.
     · Josephine Elaine Herrera, 48, of Round Rock, was convicted of theft in 1990 at the age of 27. She was given a $100 fine and paid $247.50 restitution. She is granted a full pardon.
     · Lewis Ray Howell, 73, of Lake Butler, Fla., was convicted of theft in 1955 at the age of 18. He was sentenced to three years in prison and a $500 fine. He is granted a full pardon and restoration of firearm rights.
     · Lindell Francis Shumake, 61, of Hannibal, Mo., was convicted of possession of marijuana in 1971 at the age of 21. He was sentenced to four years of probation and was released after 18 months. He is granted a full pardon.

Perry issues pardons every year near Christmas. Today's pardons bring the total number Perry has granted while in office up to 178, according to data from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. The last Perry pardon came in March of this year, when he issued a posthumous pardon for Timothy Cole, who was wrongfully convicted of rape and died while serving time in prison.