Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves commuted Marcus Taylor’s 15-year sentence to time served and ordered his release within five days after the state Court of Appeals found the term exceeded the five-year statutory maximum. Taylor had pleaded guilty in February 2015 to conspiracy to sell a Schedule III controlled substance; a clerical error listed a 20-year maximum, and he was sentenced to 15 years. The appeals court initially declined relief due to a missed filing deadline but reversed that decision on rehearing, prompting the governor’s clemency action.
Mississippi Governor Commutes Illegal 15-Year Sentence, Orders Release of Marcus Taylor After More Than 10 Years
Mississippi governor orders release of man who served more than 10 years of illegal 15-year sentence
Mississippi Republican Governor Tate Reeves has granted clemency to Marcus Taylor and ordered his release after Taylor served more than a decade of a 15-year term that the state’s appeals court found exceeded the lawful maximum for his offense.
Under the governor’s order issued Wednesday, Taylor must be freed within five days. The Mississippi Court of Appeals — all 10 members, the governor noted — determined that the 15-year sentence was illegal because the crime carries a statutory maximum of five years.
Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said Marcus Taylor must be freed within five days of his order.
"It is undisputed, as recently confirmed by all 10 members of the Mississippi Court of Appeals, that such a sentence for the offense committed plainly is illegal," Reeves said. "Mr. Taylor has served more than 10 years of his sentence, and further service of this sentence in excess of the five-year statutory maximum constitutes a mischarge of justice."
Taylor pleaded guilty in February 2015 to conspiracy to sell a Schedule III controlled substance. According to the appeals court, both the trial-court record and Taylor’s plea petition mistakenly listed a 20-year maximum penalty, and a judge subsequently sentenced him to 15 years after acting on the state’s recommendation.
The Court of Appeals initially ruled in May that Taylor’s sentence was unlawful but declined to order relief at that time because Taylor had missed the deadline to apply for post-conviction relief. After rehearing the case last month, the court reversed course and ordered his release — prompting the governor to commute the sentence to time served.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves granted clemency for the first time since taking office in 2020.
Reeves, who has not previously granted clemency since taking office in 2020, emphasized that the decision was about enforcing the rule of law rather than an act of mercy. "By commuting Mr. Taylor’s sentence to time served, I am fulfilling my Constitutional duty," he said, adding that protecting individual liberty and the rule of law are foundational principles.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
