Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has granted clemency to former police sergeant Wesley Shifflett, who was convicted of recklessly using a firearm in the shooting death of Timothy McCree Johnson. Despite being sentenced to three years in prison, Shifflett will not serve additional time behind bars due to the governor’s recent executive decision. While his felony conviction stands, Youngkin believes the court’s sentence was unjust, citing discrepancies in sentencing guidelines recommended for Shifflett. The decision has sparked controversy, with criticism from Democratic commonwealth’s attorney Steve Descano, who deems it a political move that undermines justice. Johnson’s mother, Melissa Johnson, is set to speak out against the decision at a news conference. The case involving Shifflett’s shooting of Johnson had undergone multiple legal proceedings, including a grand jury indictment and failed attempts to overturn the verdict.
Olivia Diaz serves as a corps member with The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative, a program dedicated to placing journalists in local newsrooms to cover undercovered issues. This initiative is part of Report for America, a nonprofit national service program.
