Colorado Gov. Jared Polis announced Friday that he is pardoning 35 people and commuting the sentences of nine others, including former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, who he is making eligible for parole on June 1, cutting in half her nearly nine year sentence for orchestrating a security breach of her county’s election system in 2021.
Two of the men receiving commutations were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole: Eugene Gilbert and Mondo Moralez, both convicted of first-degree murder, according to Polis.
Gilbert will be eligible for parole in 2027 and Morales in 2043.
Gilbert has served 27 years in prison for the 1994 murder of 72-year-old Mailorn Smith in Aurora. Polis described Gilbert as a minister and a “model inmate,” adding that he is also legally blind.
Moralez has served 22 years. Polis said Moralez killed someone who had raped his niece. The governor described the murder as a “crime of passion” and a “terrible situation.”
“Terrible crime, but you understand the motivation,” Polis said.
Polis is also making Joseph Aguayo eligible for parole in 2033. The Mountain Ear newspaper reported that Aguayo did not pull the trigger in the 1991 murder of Rex Miller in Rollinsville, a small town along Colorado 119 between Nederland and Black Hawk, but was present for it, the crime known as felony murder. He was given a sentence of life with the possibility of parole.
In 2021, Polis signed a law reducing the sentencing standard for people convicted of felony murder, bringing it down from life without parole to a sentence of between 16 and 48 years in prison.
“We’ve changed that, but that doesn’t retroactively change it for people,” Polis said.
In addition to Peters, Polis is releasing these people on parole on June 1:
- Matthew Aldaz has served 13 years of his 48 year sentence for second-degree murder, according to Polis. Aldaz shot and killed Thomas Abeyta in Pueblo in 2012, according to the Pueblo Chieftain, and is paralyzed from the waist down as a result of crashing his truck as he fled the scene of the shooting. Polis said Aldaz has “very little risk of reoffending.”
- Conrad Harrell has served 36 years of his life sentence for felony murder, second-degree murder and aggravated robbery, according to Polis. Harrell is now 74-years-old, Polis said, and earned his associate and bachelor’s degrees behind bars.
- Brandin Kreuzer has served 15 years of his 50-year sentence for second-degree kidnapping, first-degree assault, aggravated robbery and other crimes, according to Polis. The Fort Collins Coloradan reported at the time of Kreuzer’s sentencing in 2010 that Kreuzer was the son of a Denver police officer. His 30-day crime spree in 2008 included breaking into several homes and businesses, stealing several vehicles and firing at Sheriff’s deputies who were chasing him and an accomplice, according to the Coloradan. Polis called Kreuzer’s sentence “disproportionate” given his age. Kreuzer was 21 when he was sentenced for his crimes, according to the Coloradan.
- Richard Sandbom has served 38 years of a 107-year sentence for attempted first-degree murder and other crimes, according to Polis. Sanborn was initially sentenced to 96 years, but got time added to his sentence in the late 1980s and early 1990s after multiple attempted escapes, according to the Pueblo Chieftain. Polis said Sandbom has multiple sclerosis and the victim’s family supports his release.
- Wendell Weaver has served 20 years of a 96-year sentence for second-degree murder after a stabbing, according to Polis. Polis described Weaver as a “model inmate” who has mentored others in prison.
The governor granted pardons Friday for the following people:
- Louise Almanzan
- Tomas Arellanes
- Denise Barber
- Shawn Bishop
- Robert Bunn
- Rachel Byers
- Alan Davis
- Lanette Denton
- Sasha Froyland
- Raymond Grau
- Samuel Hernandez
- Michael Hock
- William Hood
- Sheriece Hurd
- David Johnson
- Erin Kalteich
- Todd McAllister
- Haydee McBride
- Mark McGuire
- Brian Neafus
- Matthew Neptune
- Ahn Nguyen
- Melva Pitts
- Anna Reyes-Lucero
- Kristin Robledo
- Edward Sanchez
- Sean Sanger
- James Tallo
- Robert Vanasse
- Kim Velasquez
- Alexander Vucasovich
- Joshua Wetzel
- Patricia Woods
- Robert Worrall II
- Justin Young
Polis said this is not his last round of commutations and pardons. He extended the deadline to apply until April 3 and is still reviewing hundreds of applications, he said.
Polis has pardoned people every year since he took office in 2019. He issued 22 pardons and commuted the sentences of four people last year.
Colorado Sun Reporter Jesse Paul contributed to this story.