FARMINGTON, Mo. — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson is considering roughly 100 petitions for pardon as his term winds down.
A group of retired St. Louis police officers who run a popular policing podcast believe a St. Louis County man should be at the top of the list for release.
After retiring from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department after 20 years on the force, John Frank found a home behind the microphone as part of ‘The Brighter Side of Blue’ podcast.
“We want to shine a positive light on police work,” Frank said.
That’s why when he was first contacted by Paige Spears, a convicted felon, he admits he didn’t think much of it.
“Being a police officer, I wasn’t too interested in the story,” Frank said.
However, after looking into Spears' case, he came away with questions.
“Why is this man still in prison if all he did was a robbery in 1988?” Frank said. “No one was hurt. There was no assault. There was no shooting. The more I got into it, the more I learned that he’s a victim of a glitch in the system.”
Spears was sentenced to life, which at the time was considered 40 years in Missouri, but in 1994 the legislature reduced sentencing guidelines to 30 years, though the law wasn’t retroactive.
“They can’t believe I’m still in prison,” Paige Spears said. “I’ve been in here for 36 years.”
Over that time, Spears has completed over 100 rehabilitation programs, many of which he now teaches in prisons across the state.
“I just like giving back and seeing people get out of prison,” Spears said. “Maybe one day I can follow their lead.”
Over the years, St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell has repeatedly stated that Spears has paid his debt to society and should be released; however, that would take a pardon from Gov. Parson, which is currently under review.
“If Gov. Parson believes in rehabilitation, and he knows that someone is sentenced here to the MDOC to correct the things they’ve done wrong, I think I’m the perfect candidate for a commuted sentence,” Spears said.
“Please Governor, give this man a chance,” Frank said. “I’m a police officer sitting here. My job for 20 years was to put people in the penitentiary. This is the one time I’m asking someone to let a person out of prison.”
A clerical error lists Spears' sentence at 1,001 years.
Without a pardon from Parson, the 63-year-old will have to wait until 2029 before he's eligible for parole.
To listen to Spears' interview on ‘The Brighter Side of Blue’ podcast, click here.
