Outgoing Gov. Roy Cooper has commuted the death sentences for 15 inmates on death row to life in prison without the possibility of parole. That’s a little more than 10% of the 136 total inmates on North Carolina’s death row.
Those whose sentences were commuted include Elrico Fowler, who was convicted of shooting and killing a Howard Johnson motel employee during a robbery in Charlotte 29 years ago. Cooper’s office said the commutations were based on factors such as the prisoners’ conduct since their conviction, age and mental capacity at the time of the crime, and the potential influence of factors such as race on their trials. Anti-death penalty advocates swiftly praised Cooper’s decision but noted that 89 inmates had requested commutations.
North Carolina has not carried out an execution since 2006.
According to Cooper's office, those whose sentences were commuted include:
- Hasson Bacote, 38, convicted in Johnston County in 2009.
- Iziah Barden, 67, convicted in Sampson County in 1999.
- Nathan Bowie, 53, convicted in Catawba County in 1993.
- Rayford Burke, 66, convicted in Iredell County in 1993.
- Elrico Fowler, 49, convicted in Mecklenburg County in 1997.
- Cerron Hooks, 46, convicted in Forsyth County in 2000.
- Guy LeGrande, 65, convicted in Stanly County in 1996.
- James Little, 38, convicted in Forsyth County in 2008.
- Robbie Locklear, 52, convicted in Robeson County in 1996.
- Lawrence Peterson, 55, convicted in Richmond County in 1996.
- William Robinson, 41, convicted in Stanly County in 2011.
- Christopher Roseboro, 60, convicted in Gaston County in 1997.
- Darrell Strickland, 66, convicted in Union County in 1995.
- Timothy White, 47, convicted in Forsyth County in 2000.
- Vincent Wooten, 52, convicted in Pitt County in 1994.
