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Aruba’s ONLY English newspaper
A
Missouri governor granting pardons at pace not seen since WWII era
By DAVID A. LIEB
Associated Press
Distraught by a romantic break-
up, 16-year-old Kenny Batson
vented his hurt by stomping out
the windshields of cars on a for-
sale lot. He landed in juvenile
detention, but that was only the
beginning of his trouble.
Over the ensuing years, Bat-
son stole cigarettes, booze and
cars for drunken joyrides while
bouncing in and out of prison
and substance abuse treatment
programs. At age 20, he beat a
man nearly to death, stopping
only when friends pulled him
away. Now 50, Batson is a Chris-
tian pastor, a reformed man
who has been pardoned for his
crimes. The governor who par-
doned him knows a bit about
transformations.
For a dozen years as a rural sher-
iff, Mike Parson was the face of
justice, the man ultimately re-
sponsible for catching and lock-
ing up local lawbreakers. Now
governor, Parson also has be-
come the face of mercy by par-
doning more than 600 people in
the past three years, more than
any Missouri governor since the Pastor Kenny Batson stands near a sign displaying the worship service times of Grace Fellowship Church on Nov. 16, 2023,
1940s. in El Dorado Springs, Mo. Batson was convicted of a series of crimes in the 1990s but became a Christian pastor after being
released from prison. He was pardoned by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson.
Continued on Page 2 (AP Photo/David A.Lieb)
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