DENVER (AP) — Colorado’s Senate has called for clemency for a robbery convict who reformed his life after mistakenly being released from prison but was incarcerated again once the mistake was discovered.
The Senate on Thursday approved a resolution urging the governor to grant clemency to Rene Lima-Marin, whose family witnessed the vote.
Colorado’s House already passed the nonbinding resolution, and Gov. John Hickenlooper’s office says he will thoroughly review a clemency application.
Lima-Marin received sentences totaling 98 years for robbing two suburban Denver video stores at gunpoint. Because of a paperwork error, he was released after just eight years.
He got married and held a steady job before authorities realized the mistake six years later.
Prosecutors oppose clemency, saying Lima-Marin never told officials about the mistake.
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