EXECUTIVE ORDER: 08-17

FOR: PARDON

TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS MAY COME, GREETINGS;

WHEREAS, MICHAEL BENNETT, who has petitioned for a pardon, was convicted in 2000 in Monroe County of Theft, for which he served his sentence without incident or violation of parole; and

WHEREAS, the petitioner, who served two years on house arrest and supervised probation, is now a 29-year-old man who has been a productive member of society by volunteering within his community; serving our Nation in the United State [sic] Navy for five years, and has since the instant offense lived a law-abiding and productive life; and

WHEREAS, the petitioner realized the importance of the Criminal Justice System as it supported a change in his life and received his undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice as well as a Master's of Business Administration after being incarcerated and rehabilitated and has [sic] and has been accepted into the Indiana University School of Law; and

WHEREAS, the petitioner has received the Sailor of the Year award by the U.S. Navy in 2004; and is currently enrolled at Indiana University earning his Master's in Library Information Systems; and

WHEREAS, the petitioner has letters of support urging the Governor to grant this pardon; and

WHEREAS, the Parole Board, after careful investigation and examination of all the facts in this case, has recommended to the Governor that this pardon be granted.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr., Governor of the State of Indiana, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of said State, do hereby issue a pardon to MICHAEL BENNETT.

SEAL

ATTEST: Todd Rokita

Secretary of State