Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich has granted clemency to a condemned inmate scheduled to die this month after being convicted of killing a Cleveland produce vendor.

Kasich’s decision follows Tuesday’s recommendation by the Ohio Parole Board in favor of mercy for Arthur Tyler, whose attorneys argue he is innocent in the 1983 shooting of Sander Leach.

Kasich reduced Tyler’s sentence to life without the possibility of parole, rejecting requests that Tyler be made eligible for parole for possible release.

Tyler’s lawyers say his co-defendant took responsibility for the shooting several times. Cuyahoga County prosecutors dispute Tyler’s innocence but also pushed for clemency, saying the case doesn’t meet current standards for capital punishment.

The 54-year-old Tyler was scheduled to die May 28.


(Source: WOSU - The Associated Press)

The board cited several statements by the co-defendant of death row inmate Arthur Tyler taking responsibility for the 1983 shooting, as well as the Cuyahoga County prosecutor’s position that the killing would not be prosecuted as a death penalty case today.
The board rejected the prosecutor’s request to change the sentence to life without parole. A minority of the board said his sentence should be commuted to 33 years, making him eligible for parole in two years.


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On Monday, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office asked the Ohio Parole Board to recommend that Arthur Tyler's death sentence be commuted to life without the possibility of parole. Tyler has a clemency hearing scheduled for Thursday.

On March 12, 1983, Arthur Tyler killed Sander Leach, 74, during the commission of a robbery. Tyler was tried twice and, on both occasions, was sentenced to death. His death sentence has been upheld despite repeated collateral attacks in multiple courts.

Tyler claims that he is innocent and asks this Board to recommend that he receive clemency and have his sentence reduced from death to life in prison with parole eligibility. Read more

Help Save Arthur Tyler's life:  Write a letter to the Governor - Check his website or Facebook.

Arthur Tyler, slated to die May 28 in controversial capital case, asks Ohio for mercy; Arthur Tyler has been on Ohio's death row for 3 decades.
Arthur Tyler, who has been on Ohio's death row 3 decades for the murder of a produce vendor during a robbery in Cleveland, has asked the Ohio Parole Board to commute his sentence to life in prison with a chance of parole.

The parole board will hold a clemency hearing April 24 to hear Tyler's pleas. The board will make a recommendation to Gov. John Kasich, who will ultimately decide Tyler's fate.

He is scheduled to be executed May 28.

Tyler's case has been controversial because he was 1 of 2 people convicted in the killing of Sanders Leach, but the only one sentenced to die. And there are questions as to who actually pulled the trigger.

Tyler's co-defendant, Leroy Head, confessed almost immediately. Head admitted to police, family and friends that he shot Leach in a struggle for the gun during the March 1983 robbery attempt, according to court records.

He signed a confession, but later changed his story, telling prosecutors that Tyler fired the gun.

Tyler was convicted of aggravated murder and aggravated robbery and sentenced to die. Head pleaded guilty to the same charges and was sentenced to prison. He was released in 2008.

Tyler's lawyers, in a brief filed with the parole board, said Tyler recognizes he shares responsibility for Leach's death. But they urge clemency be granted, commuting his death sentence to life imprisonment with parole eligibility.

"Ideally, Arthur Tyler should be granted parole and released from prison for time served, they wrote. "As we will demonstrate, Arthur Tyler did not shoot Mr. Leach. Head falsely testified against Mr. Tyler in order to save himself from the death penalty."

(source: Cleveland.com)

What you can do to help save the life of Arthur Tyler:
Executive clemency is Arthur Tyler's last chance. Write a letter to the Governor - Check his website or Facebook.