California Governor Gavin Newsom pardoned 19 people the day before Thanksgiving, including award-winning San Quentin podcaster Earlonne Woods.
Woods co-founded the well-known and highly regarded podcast Ear Hustle from within San Quentin State Prison in 2017, and it was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 2020. The title is derived from a slang phrase for eavesdropping used in prisons.
According to a statement released by the governor’s office Wednesday afternoon, the grantees have changed their ways since their convictions and have shown a dedication to serving their families and communities.
According to his office, Newsom considers a variety of factors when evaluating clemency applications, such as the applicant’s conduct and self-improvement since the offense, whether the grant is in the interest of justice, and the impact of a grant on the community, including crime victims and survivors.
In a Wednesday afternoon Instagram video, Woods said, “I got a call from Gov. Newsom today.” He described how the governor informed him of the news and thanked him for his efforts. Your boy has been forgiven, then!
Under the state’s three strikes legislation, Woods, who had two previous convictions as a juvenile, was given a term ranging from 31 years to life for his involvement in an armed robbery in 1997.
In 2018, former Governor Jerry Brown mitigated the podcaster’s sentence, allowing Woods to be released on parole. Following his release, Woods had an interview with Brown for the podcast in the governor’s home in Sacramento.
After his release, Woods, who was born and reared in South Central Los Angeles, was employed by Public Radio Exchange as a full-time producer and co-host for Ear Hustle. According to an Ear Hustle biography, he also earned his GED, went to Coastline Community College, and finished vocational trade courses while he was a prisoner.
In March, Newsom had already declared that he would be filing for Woods’ pardon.The earlier application was made because state law prohibits the governor from directly pardoning or commuting the sentences of a person who has been convicted of several felonies without first obtaining consent from the state Supreme Court.
Sonoma County restaurateur Damian Clopton, one of the other 18 grantees, said he was extremely appreciative of Newsom for signing his pardon.
Clopton, who was released from prison in 2010 after serving time for having and transporting a restricted narcotic for sale, stated, “I already did turn my life around and this is a recognition of that.”
He stated that the pardon will immediately impact his livelihood as a small company owner because he has a criminal past that prevents him from participating in many federal programs. The letter is still scarlet.
— Los Angeles Times’ Julia Wick
Hannah Wiley and Taryn Luna helped with this story.
Los Angeles Times, 2024. Click here: atlatimes.com. Tribune Content Agency, LLC is the distributor.
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