FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 25, 2007

Clarence Carter's fate now rests with Governor

(Columbus)–Death row inmate Clarence Carter’s fate now rests with Governor Strickland. The Ohio Parole Board today voted 6–3 to recommend against Mr. Carter’s request for a sentence commutation to life without parole. Mr. Carter requests a sentence commutation based on a wealth of mitigation evidence that his jury never heard, including evidence of organic brain dysfunction and borderline mental retardation, and humanizing evidence of Mr. Carter’s history and background.

Mr. Carter also requests mercy based on evidence that casts serious doubts about whether he committed the aggravated murder of Johnny Allen with prior calculation and design. Evidence developed after the 1989 trial in Hamilton County establishes that Allen threatened Mr. Carter before the fatal fight in the Jail Annex. Additionally, a key inmate witness against Mr. Carter, Calvin Steele, aka Stanley Griffin, recanted his testimony that he saw Mr. Carter attack Allen with a “sucker punch.” Steele admitted after the trial that he had no idea how the fight between Mr. Carter and Allen started. Moreover, Steele admitted after trial that he lied to get consideration on his own pending case from the prosecutor. Steele’s case was continued for sentencing until after he testified against Mr. Carter. Steele then received a considerably lighter sentence for his cooperation with the prosecutor.

Mr. Carter also provided to the Parole Board an affidavit from former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Herbert R. Brown, who authored the 1992 opinion affirming this death sentence. Justice Brown stated in his affidavit that a sentence commutation for Mr. Carter would be “appropriate,” based on the exhibits submitted in support of Mr. Carter’s application.

Clarence Carter’s clemency application and supporting exhibits can be viewed at: http://www.opd.ohio.gov.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Amy Borror, Public Information Officer
Office of the Ohio Public Defender
614-644-1587
Email: amy.borror@opd.ohio.gov