ATLANTA - The State Board of Pardons and Paroles conducted a meeting today to consider clemency for condemned inmate Robert Earl Butts, Jr. Following the meeting, the Board issued a stay of up to 90-days to continue consideration of the case.

The Board may lift the order at any time and vote to grant or deny clemency in the case.

The stay halts the scheduled execution of Butts that was to take place Thursday, May 3, 2018, at 7 p.m.

“Due to the considerable amount of additional information the Board has received regarding the case and because the Board understands the importance and seriousness of its authority and responsibility, a stay was issued,” stated Board spokesman Steve Hayes.

“The Board will continue consideration of the case and at a later date make a final decision. That decision could come during the stay or at the end of the 90-days,” added Hayes.

The Superior Court of Baldwin County issued the order for the execution to be conducted by the Department of Corrections on a date between May 3 and May 10, 2018. Should the Board lift the stay and deny clemency during that time frame, the execution could proceed without a new execution order. The Board could also grant clemency commuting the death sentence to life with parole eligibility or to life without parole eligibility.

Butts was convicted and sentenced to death in Baldwin County for the 1996 murder of Donovan Corey Parks.

In Georgia, the Parole Board has the sole constitutional authority to determine if clemency is warranted in a death penalty case. 

The Board maintains a comprehensive file on each death row inmate. The file contains the history of the life of the condemned inmate, including the inmate’s criminal history and the circumstances of the crime that was committed resulting in the death sentence. The Board Members thoroughly review this information prior to the scheduled clemency meeting.

To view a photo of Robert Earl Butts, Jr., go to www.gdc.georgia.gov, click on Find an Offender, agree to the terms on the disclaimer page and search by the offender’s EF number, 405158.

For more information please contact Steve Hayes, Communications Director, at 404-657-9450 or [email protected] or visit our website at www.pap.georgia.gov.

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