In a recent decision, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves extended clemency to Maurice Taylor, a man sentenced unlawfully to a prison term significantly longer than the maximum allowable duration for his offense. This announcement, made on Wednesday, came shortly after Reeves had ordered the release of Maurice's brother, Marcus Taylor, who was under a comparable illegal sentence.
Back in February 2015, both Maurice and Marcus Taylor entered guilty pleas to charges of conspiracy to sell hydrocodone-acetaminophen, a Schedule III controlled substance, under plea agreements. The combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen is medically prescribed for managing severe pain that is not alleviated by or cannot be treated with other pain medications, as per the Mayo Clinic.
At the time their sentences were passed, Mississippi law imposed a maximum penalty of five years for conspiracy to sell a Schedule III substance. Despite this, Maurice Taylor was sentenced to a 20-year term, with five years suspended, and Marcus Taylor received a 15-year sentence. Both sentences therefore exceeded the legal limit by a substantial margin.
Governor Reeves noted in his clemency announcement the disparity in the sentences, stating, “Like his brother, Maurice Taylor received a sentence more than three times longer than allowed under Mississippi law. When justice is denied to even one Mississippian, it is denied to us all.”
The legal journey for Marcus Taylor saw a pivotal moment when the Mississippi Court of Appeals recognized his sentence as illegal in May. However, the court initially declined to reduce his sentence or order release because Marcus had missed the filing deadline for post-conviction relief. Upon a subsequent rehearing in November, the court reversed this stance and mandated his release.
According to Governor Reeves' most recent order, Maurice Taylor's post-conviction attorney reached out to his office for the first time only several weeks ago, submitting legal documentation related to his case. Governor Reeves commanded that Maurice Taylor be freed within five days of the order's issuance.
The Mississippi Impact Coalition, an organization focused on criminal justice reform, responded to the clemency announcement via social media, emphasizing the protracted nature of this injustice. The Coalition stated, “This correction should have happened decades ago. It shouldn’t have taken relentless advocacy, public pressure, and the glaring contrast of one twin free while the other remained incarcerated to expose this injustice.”
Efforts to contact Maurice Taylor’s post-conviction counsel were not successful at the time of reporting. The clemency granted to Maurice and Marcus Taylor represents the only such acts issued by Governor Reeves to date.