California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued 23 pardons and 10 commutations on Friday, the governor’s office announced, including a man convicted of murder in Sacramento County who will be allowed to apply for for parole.
Newsom granted a commutation to Arthur Battle, convicted of murder for a 2006 contract killing. Battle was 18 years old when he and another man were paid to kill 45-year-old Norik Abramyan.
Battle was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 2009 and has been incarcerated for 19 years. Newsom reduced that sentence to 21 years to life. Battle will be eligible to apply for parole in two years…