SUNDQUIST GIVES SEVEN CLEMENCY

Only One Case Is East Tennessean

NASHVILLE - Shortly before Christmas, Gov. Don Sundquist granted
clemency to seven people for past crimes - full pardons in four cases
and sentence commutations in the other three.

Recipients of the pardons, which legally erase a conviction, include
an airline flight attendant faced with the loss of her job because of
a 1999 marijuana conviction. The sentence commutations, which result
in release from prison or the end of parole supervision for those
already freed, typically involve more serious offenses, including murder.

A Cocke County man is the only East Tennessee person to benefit from
Sundquist's moves.

The governor has now granted 16 pardons and 15 sentence commutations
during his eight years in office, according to spokeswoman Kriste
Goad. He may issue others before leaving office Jan. 18, she said.

The lame-duck leader's most recent clemency actions were dated Dec.
16. He also issued two pardons and a sentence commutation Nov. 1.

Asked why the pace of clemency actions had increased, Goad said
Sundquist "may not sit down every week and go over what comes through
from the board.

"In the past six months, particularly the last three months, the
governor has just been trying to take care of any unfinished business,
knowing that he's leaving office," she said. "Historically, the
governor has acted on more of them (clemency requests) in December
than any other month."

Clemency has been a controversial topic in Tennessee since the late
former Gov. Ray Blanton issued pardons and commutations on a wholesale
basis and was ousted from office three days early in 1979 to block
further last-minute actions.

Subsequently, two members of Blanton's administration were convicted
of selling clemency for cash to prisoners. Blanton was later sentenced
to prison on separate charges involving illegal sale of liquor licenses.

Goad said Blanton issued 617 commutations and 41 pardons during his
four-year term. Former Gov. Lamar Alexander issued 203 commutations
and 23 pardons during eight years, and former Gov. Ned McWherter
issued just two commutations and five pardons, also in eight years,
she said. All but one of Sundquist's most recent clemency actions -
that of airline stewardess Mary Elizabeth Fike of Nashville - were
based on recommendations from the state Board of Paroles.

In Fike's case, the governor initiated a review by his legal staff
after being contacted by her ex-husband. The man said his wife's job
was jeopardized under new federal airline security rules because of a
prior drug conviction, said Kim Beals, Sundquist's deputy legal counsel.

Donna Blackburn, executive director of the Board of Paroles, said the
Fike case was one of seven clemency actions Sundquist made without a
board recommendation.

The only East Tennessee case involved in the recent clemency actions
was the commutation of sentences imposed on Ralph Dean Purkey in 1986.
He was sentenced to life plus 10 years after being legally deemed a
"habitual criminal" following convictions for grand larceny, check
forgery and attempted fraud.

He escaped prison in 1988 and was not recaptured until 1992, according
to the clemency document. The conditional commutation does not grant
his immediate release from Southeastern Correctional Facility in
Pikeville, but it allows him to be considered for parole under
supervision by January 2005.

The clemency document says he has been successfully treated for
substance abuse problems and has obtained an education in prison,
including "trade skills which will facilitate his employment with a
family-owned business in Texas upon his release." In other cases,
documents recite successful efforts at education and rehabilitation of
those granted clemency.

Sundquist has also revoked clemency granted by prior governors in six
recent cases.

On Nov. 1, for example, he revoked the commutation granted by
McWherter in 1989 to Alfred Jackson, sentenced to life in prison in
1977 in Cocke County. He pleaded guilty in May 2000 to vandalism and
violating a court order protecting a former girlfriend.

Sundquist's revocation of the commutation sends Jackson back to
prison, although he will be eligible for parole in December 2004.

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LIST OF CLEMENCY RECIPIENTS

Ralph Dean Purkey, convicted of grand larceny in Cocke County plus
check forgery and attempted fraud in Hamblen County, 1986, sentences
of life plus 10 years commuted Dec. 16; expected to get job in Texas."

Angelo Cobrasci, convicted of burglary, grand larceny, 1989, in Dyer
County, pardoned Nov. 1; now chief executive officer of Defenders of
Freedom and living in Collierville, Tenn.

Christopher David Smith, convicted of sexual battery, 1992, in
Davidson County, pardoned Nov. 1; living in Nashville.

Janet Ferrell, convicted of fraud in obtaining prescription drugs,
1994, in Shelby County; pardoned Dec. 16 and working in eastern Arkansas.

Mary Elizabeth Fike, convicted of possession of marijuana for sale,
1999, Davidson County, pardoned Dec. 16 and now an airline flight attendant.

Donald Lynn Frazier, convicted of burglary and grand larceny, 1991,
Davidson County, pardoned Dec. 16 and living in Old Hickory, Tenn.

Jerry Edward Presley, convicted of sale of marijuana, 1989, Dyer
County; pardoned Dec. 16 and working as a licensed physical therapist
with Methodist Health Care in Dyersburg, Tenn.

Francis L. McClain, convicted of first-degree murder, 1982, Hamilton
County, life sentence commuted Nov. 1; present address
unavailable.

Stephen M. Ashworth, convicted of robbery, 1992, Davidson County, two
eight-year sentences commuted Dec. 16; now living in Hartsville, Tenn.

Reginald D. Cooper, convicted of second-degree murder, 1992, Davidson
County, 25-year sentence commuted Dec. 16; present address
unavailable.