Colorado Gov. Jared Polis delivers the 2024 State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature in the House chamber at the Colorado Capitol in Denver, on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. (Hyoung Chang, pool/The Denver Post)
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Friday granted 22 pardons and four commutations to people convicted of various crimes in the state, including two people sentenced to life in prison for murder.
Rudy Giron, who was convicted of first-degree murder in 1993, and Ronald Janoushek, who was convicted of first-degree murder in 1992, both received life sentences without the possibility of parole. Polis commuted their sentences so they will both be eligible for release in January 2033.
In Giron’s case, Polis noted that he was offered a plea deal of 32 years, but Giron went to trial and received a harsh sentence. The victim’s family in his case also supported his clemency application, Polis said in his letter granting Giron’s commutation.
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Polis said Giron and Janoushek both committed to rehabilitation while in prison and have shown remorse for their actions.
Polis also granted commutations to Victor Clark and Travis Colvin.
Clark was one of several people convicted in relation to a series of bank robberies, but Polis said his co-defendants “received less severe punishments for the same crimes.” Polis commuted his 66-year sentence to make him eligible for parole in January 2030. Clark has already served nearly 13 years of his sentence and lives in a prison unit “designed for individuals showing dedication to bettering themselves.”
Colvin has served 36 years of a 154-year sentence for sexual assault and attempted murder charges. Polis made him eligible for parole in January 2028 citing changes to laws around mandatory consecutive sentences since his conviction.
Many of the people Polis pardoned for drug charges are now sober and help others with substance abuse disorders. Others pardoned included veterans, people who started their own businesses, and others who worked for local government and agencies including the U.S. Postal Service and the Regional Transportation District.
Polis pardoned Mary Arneson, Cheryl Mohan-Athey, Isaac Badgerow, Wayne Balis, Johnny Bishop, Rachel Byers, Jeffrey Davies, Darrell Drewer, Kent Frisbie, Shawn Gilley, Buck Glanz, Gregory (Clay) Gordon, Tyler Green, Randy Guthridge, Christopher Hall, Ryan Hanscom, Michael Lovette, Steve Salazar, Brian Valish, Steven Venable, Ronnie West Jr., and Mark Young.
Glanz, whom Polis granted clemency for a 2011 charge of racketeering, became a public defender.
Polis granted Davies clemency for a 1986 marijuana charge, and noted in his letter that “the attitude surrounding marijuana possession has changed immensely since your convictions.”
Balis, whom Polis granted clemency for a 1994 theft charge, volunteers with the Colorado Department of Corrections to help incarcerated individuals develop skills that will help them once they are released from custody.
Young runs an organization that leads mission trips to help children living in conflict zones. Polis granted him clemency for a 1986 trespassing and menacing charge.
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