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A6 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 6 december 2018

Sarah Palin's son checks into Alaska halfway house

By RACHEL D'ORO tially charged with felony had were self-inflicted.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) burglary and misdemeanor Palin faces misdemeanor
— The elder son of former counts of assault and crimi- charges including assault,
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin nal mischief. resisting arrest and disor-
turned himself in to an An- Palin, who served a year in derly conduct in that case.
chorage halfway house Iraq, has been accused of Track Palin's plea arrange-
Wednesday to begin a two other attacks on peo- ment called for him to
year in custody, following ple close to him in recent serve 10 days in jail if he
his conviction for assaulting years. completed the therapeu-
his father, an official said. In September, Palin was ar- tic program and a year
Track Palin was initially rested after a female ac- behind bars if he did not.
scheduled to enter the quaintance said he told her Once Palin checks in to the
halfway house Oct. 31 af- that she could not leave his halfway house, it's up to the
ter a judge decided new house in Wasilla, took her Department of Corrections
assault allegations disquali- phone and then hit her in to determine if he will serve
fied him from a court pro- the head, according to the time at the halfway
gram aimed at rehabilitat- In this Oct. 3, 2018, file photo, Track Palin, left, talks with his law- court documents. house, on house arrest or in
ing veterans and said he yer Patrick Bergt before a hearing in Anchorage, Alaska. The woman said they wres- jail, according to Anchor-
would have to serve time Associated Press tled over the phone and age District Attorney Rich-
instead. that Palin let her leave after ard Allen.
But the 29-year-old Army Wednesday morning, said leaving his father, Todd, she screamed for help, ac- Palin also was accused of
veteran won a delay after Trey Watson of Geo Reen- bleeding from cuts on his cording to an Alaska State punching his then-girlfriend
his lawyer said a bed at an try of Alaska Inc., which op- head, authorities have Troopers affidavit. Troop- in 2016. He pleaded guilty
Anchorage treatment hos- erates the halfway house. said. ers said Palin told them the to misdemeanor possession
pital for veterans became Palin in December 2017 He pleaded guilty to misde- two were arguing over how of a firearm while intoxi-
available. He checked was accused of breaking meanor criminal trespass in they said goodbye and cated, and other charges
into the halfway house into his parents' home and that case, after he was ini- that any injuries the woman were dismissed.q

Fallin commutes sentences of 21 Oklahoma prisoners

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Only a small number of crimes, were sentenced to who range in age from 8 to rate in the nation.
Gov. Mary Fallin on Tues- commutation requests typ- 10 or more years in prison 15, since their mother was Although Fallin in recent
day commuted the sen- ically reach the governor's for offenses that now carry incarcerated two years years has pushed for
tences of 21 prison inmates office each year, and par- only jail time or significantly ago. Initially 22 offenders changes to the state's
convicted of various nonvi- don and parole officials reduced sentences. were selected for commu- criminal justice system, like
olent offenses in an unusual say only about 3 percent Another group of about tation, but one inmate was more treatment and sen-
move that underscores the of requests are ultimately two dozen offenders are cited for misconduct be- tencing options for non-
Republican leader's push signed by the governor. expected to reach Fallin's fore the requests were sent violent offenders, many of
to reduce Oklahoma's pris- But this year, Oklahomans desk later this month. to the governor, said John her proposals have been
on population. for Criminal Justice Re- Four children of 36-year-old Estus, chief of staff for Okla- resisted by the state's GOP-
Fallin signed the commu- form, a bipartisan group of Juanita Peralta, who was homans for Criminal Justice controlled Legislature and
tations during an emotion- civic and business leaders, sentenced to 15 years in Reform. Fallin's commuta- elected district attorneys .
al ceremony at the state partnered with University prison for drug possession, tions shaved more than After years of inaction by
Capitol in which family of Tulsa law students for a were among those excited 340 years off the sentences the Legislature, a group
and friends of the prisoners commutation campaign about the release of their of the 21 inmates. of civic and business lead-
cheered every signature. that helped inmates pre- mother. "I was talking to my Oklahoma's incarceration ers led an effort two years
"As we prepare for this pare paperwork and co- sister, and she asked: Is this rate has been increasing ago to reduce the penal-
Christmas holiday season, ordinate for treatment, really happening?" said for decades, and the state ties for drug possession and
let's not forget," Fallin said, housing and job prospects Peralta's eldest daughter, earlier this year surpassed low-level property crimes.
pausing as her eyes filled upon their release. Each 21-year-old Destiny Pinon Louisiana to earn the du- Voters approved the plan
with tears. "There is a God of the 21 offenders, mostly of Ada. Pinon said she has bious distinction as having in 2016 with nearly 60 per-
of second chances." women convicted of drug been raising her siblings, the highest incarceration cent of the vote.q