State Rep. Mike Villareal’s Letter Urging Clemency for Jeff Wood

Last week, ten legislators wrote a letter to the Board of Pardons and Paroles and Governor Perry urging clemency for Jeff Wood. Here is another letter from a state legislator: State Representative Mike Villareal. We also know that Rep Dora Olivo wrote her own letter.

August 12, 2008

The Honorable Rick Perry

Governor of Texas

State Capitol

Room 2S.1

Austin, Texas 78701

Ms. Rissie Owens

Chair

Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles

Members of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles

Executive Clemency Section

8610 Shoal Creek Boulevard

Austin, Texas 78757

Dear Governor Perry, Chairwoman Owens and Board Members:

As you know, the execution of Jeffrey Wood is currently set for August 21, 2008. I am writing to respectfully request a review of the facts of the case which I believe urge commutation of Jeffrey Wood’s sentence to no more than life without parole.

Mr. Wood was convicted of capital murder under the Texas Law of Parties. It appears that he neither killed, nor anticipated that Daniel Earl Reneau would kill, Kris Keeran. It also appears that Mr. Wood did not actively participate in the convenience store robbery in Kerrville that preceded the January 2, 1996 murder. He did not anticipate that a murder would occur and was not in the store when the murder took place. The shooter, Danny Reneau, has already been executed for this crime.

Our justice system should be required to meet a high standard to use the Law of Parties provision to extend capital punishment to someone who did not directly commit murder. It appears that in the case of Jeffrey Wood application of the Law of Parties falls short.

Thank you very much for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Michael U. Villarreal