Charles "Sonny" Burton has spent more than 30 years on death row, a place reserved for "the worst of the worst" killers, according to our criminal legal system. But Sonny never killed anyone. 

The identity of the shooter, Derrick DeBruce, was never in dispute. However, Alabama allows the death penalty for non-shooters?people like Sonny, who participated in a felony leading to someone's death, even if they didn't personally carry out the killing. Like Sonny, Mr. DeBruce was condemned to death. But, years later, the State of Alabama agreed to resentence Mr. DeBruce to life without parole. Sonny remained on death row, where he has been for the past 33 years - a result the State itself described as "arguably unjust."  

"Arguably unjust" does not begin to cover it. Sonny's conviction for capital murder rests on the flimsiest of testimony necessary to satisfy the intent requirement. This came from one witness?a teenage co-defendant testifying only to save himself from the death penalty. Guilty at most of non-capital murder, Sonny never should have faced the death penalty either. What happened after that can only be described as a cascade of injustice. Over the years, the errors in this case have evaded correction through the normal judicial process. Commutation is Sonny's last hope. 

Sonny is a father, a brother, a son, and a friend. He's also a deeply spiritual man committed to guiding others away from the difficult path he's had to walk. Sent away as a child to live with an abusive father, Sonny understands what it means to face pain and loss. While he was incarcerated, his wife was tragically murdered?and the person responsible has since been granted parole. When asked his opinion on the matter, Sonny chose forgiveness, not additional punishment.

Today, Sonny's health is rapidly deteriorating. He is considered a "fall risk" in prison and uses a wheelchair to get around because of severe physical pain. He lives each day uncertain when his execution date might be set. We are asking only that he receive the same sentence Derrick DeBruce ultimately received: Life Without the Possibility of Parole. 

Sonny Burton is not a killer. He is not the "worst of the worst." Please contact Gov. Ivey and urge her to show him mercy.