Outgoing Gov. O'Malley Officially Commutes Death Sentences
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley has officially commuted the death sentences of four inmates who had been sentenced to die before Maryland banned capital punishment in 2013.
O'Malley officially signed executive orders commuting their sentences on Tuesday, one day before he leaves office.
The Democratic governor signed the commutations for Vernon Evans, Anthony Grandison, Jody Lee Miles and Heath Burch.
In each of the four orders, O'Malley wrote that in granting the commutation he intends each inmate to "serve the remainder of his natural life in prison."
Robert Biddle, an attorney for Miles, is asking a judge not to change his client's sentence to life without parole in response to O'Malley's order. Biddle contends his client deserves a chance to argue for a life sentence with the possibility of parole.
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