A man who was wrongfully sentenced to 15 years in prison for a crime that carries a maximum penalty of five years behind bars is set to be released after Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves granted him clemency on Wednesday.
The Mississippi Court of Appeals ruled in May that Marcus Taylor’s sentence was unlawful, but did not reduce the sentence because Taylor missed the deadline to apply for post-conviction relief.
After reconsidering the case last month, the court changed course and ordered Taylor’s release.
Taylor accepted a plea deal in February 2015 on a charge of conspiracy to sell a Schedule III controlled substance. The appeals court stated that the trial court and Taylor’s plea application erred in setting the maximum sentence at 20 years.
At the state’s recommendation, a judge sentenced Taylor to 15 years in prison.
“This is about justice, not mercy,” Reeves said in a statement. “Mr Taylor has served more than 10 years of his sentence, and serving more of that sentence beyond the statutory maximum of five years constitutes an abuse of justice.”
This is the first time Reeves has granted clemency since taking office in 2020.
Reeves’ order said Taylor must be released within five days.
Taylor’s lawyer was not immediately available for comment.