REBUTTAL: The Clemmons story

The letter of Aug. 10 written by Ron Dayton eliminated facts that mattered. Clemmons’ 2009 killing spree in Washington was the result of a sad chain of events.

In 1989, at age 17, Clemmons was arrested for five felonies in Arkansas and eight in Washington. He was convicted and sentenced to 108 years. In 2000, Gov. Huckabee commuted his sentence to 47 years. This made Clemmons eligible for parole. The parole board, in all their infinite wisdom, unanimously voted to release him due to his young age at conviction and his good behavior.

In 2009, Clemmons was arrested in Washington for rape of a child. Even with his past felonies and his psychological evaluation showing he had visions he was Jesus Christ; we’re on the verge of an apocalypse; told officers he was President Obama and Lebron James’s brother; Oprah Winfrey was his sister; and that he was a “beast,” a liberal judge allowed Clemmons to post bail. Six days later Clemmons walked into a coffee shop in Tacoma and killed four uniformed police officers.

Blaming Republicans does not solve our flawed correctional system when a partisan solution is needed. Complex issues do not have simple solutions.

Ron Dayton stated, “If the Democrats don’t win the House and Senate this time around, I will leave this country and never return.” Checking the facts may change his mind.

JIM VALESTRINO

Coeur d’Alene