Family, prosecutor question murder pardon

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Along with scores of other crime victims, Johnetta Pryor learned Wednesday that her son, Jeremy Pryor’s killer had been pardoned by former Governor Matt Bevin just hours prior to Bevin leaving office.

The pardon stunned Pryor and the man who prosecuted the case, Warren County Commonwealth’s Attorney Chris Cohron.

A Warren Circuit Court jury convicted Michael Andrew Hardy on July 21, 2016 of murder, three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, one count of first-degree criminal mischief and one count of operating a motor vehicle under the influence. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The jury found that Hardy was driving under the influence when his car struck a car driven by Jeremy Pryor Nov. 21, 2014 resulting in Pryor’s death.

At the time of Hardy’s arrest, he told police he was an alcoholic and should be in prison, according to his arrest citation.

In the conditional pardon, Hardy, 25, must refrain from alcohol consumption. He must also share his story and  Pryor’s name in schools, churches and other gatherings at least six times per year for the next 20 years.

The pardon also shocked Cohron.

“I was amazed that once again former Governor Bevin’s arrogance was only over matched by his ignorance when he made the decision to release Michael Hardy and the several other violent felons back onto the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

“We’re right now researching to see what, if anything, can be done to enforce the provisions of the conditional pardon. However, again due to Governor Bevin’s ignorance and the poorly written order that we’re dealing with, we’ve got significant concerns that that piece of paper is not worth what it’s printed on.

“We may be having to litigate the issue on how that conditional pardon will be enforced.

“By Governor Bevin corrupting the pardoning system by the issuance of these orders I think you’re going to see a significant push for reform on how, when and if pardons are issued in the future,” Cohron said.

News of the pardon, brought back all of the pain Pryor felt the first day that her son’s life was taken.

“Yesterday has just put us right back to the moment when Jeremy died just like it’s probably done for all the other families yesterday. All the victims yesterday were just like, you don’t matter. Your child doesn’t matter,” Pryor said.