Impresa Legal Attorney, Rich Kelsey, Weighs in on Governor’s Clemency for Former Fairfax Officer
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin recently granted clemency to former Fairfax County police sergeant Wesley Shifflett, who was convicted of reckless handling of a firearm after fatally shooting an unarmed man. Shifflett had been sentenced to three years in prison, but Youngkin called the sentence “unjust.”
Legal expert and attorney Rich Kelsey, who was featured on NPR discussing the case, supported the governor’s decision. Kelsey explained that while Shifflett was convicted of reckless handling of a firearm, he was acquitted of manslaughter, making the jail sentence unnecessary. Kelsey believes the outcome was just, given the circumstances surrounding the case.
The conviction remains in place for now, pending potential appeal.
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https://www.wvtf.org/news/2025-03-03/youngkin-grants-clemency-in-fairfax-officer-case-legal-experts-weigh-in