Jim Morrison Could Get Pardon for 1970 Indecent Exposure, Profanity Convictions

GAINESVILLE, Fla (CBS/AP) Jim Morrison's indecent exposure and profanity convictions stemming from a Miami concert in 1969 generated a lot of attention at the time and is still a part of the music icon's legend.

According to police, The Doors' singer was drunk at the concert and exposed himself, which Morrison denied.

But now, Florida Governor Charlie Crist said he is seriously considering absolving Morrison's convictions, saying he was just a kid at the time facing a lot of challenges.

"He died when he was 27. That's really a kid, when you think about it, and obviously he was having some challenges," Crist said Monday, after attending a rally against global warming with rock star Sheryl Crow. "There's some dispute about how solid the case was."

Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek said Tuesday that he never saw Morrison expose himself and none of the more than 100 photos entered into evidence showed Morrison's genitals.

"He taunted the audience. 'I'm going to show you! I'm going to show it to you!' Then he took his shirt off, held it in front of him like a bullfighter's cape, wiggled it around as if there was something going on behind it," Manzarek said.

Morrison appealed the convictions, but was found dead in a Paris bathtub before it could be heard.

The issue was brought to Crist's attention by Dave Diamond, a Doors fan from Dayton, Ohio, who wrote the governor last month.

Crist said he has his legal team reviewing the case and determining the procedure for granting a pardon. Manzarek was elated that Crist is considering the pardon.

"You know what would really be nice? Florida is Jim's home state. He's a Florida boy. Wouldn't it great if Florida could finally say, 'Hey, native son, your name is cleared. We recognize you as a young American poet,' " he said.