Success Stories
Photo Credit: Bernard Troncale
Since 2019, Appleseed has worked in cooperation with a handful of District Attorneys to identify older, incarcerated people serving life imprisonment without parole who would be sentenced to much shorter sentences under current law. To date, 15 men have been safely released. These individuals paid their debt, demonstrated remarkable rehabilitation, and are thriving in their new lives outside of prison. These success stories prove that targeted second chances work. These men pose no danger to the public. It's time to pass legislation creating a new, legal avenue for more Alabama judges to review old cases of hundreds more people who have fought through tough conditions to embrace change and who no longer need to be trapped in Alabama's violent overcrowded prisons.
Ronald McKeithen
Age 62, has been free since 2020 after serving 37 years in prison. A sought-after speaker and artist, Ronald was freed after the victim in his 1984 robbery expressed shock that he was still incarcerated. His only prior offenses were possession of a stolen credit card and credit card fraud (from a single incident) and burglary of an empty building as a teenager. He has a full-time job assisting other newly released people from prison.
Michael Schumacher
Age 62, served 36 years for a robbery in which he stood lookout with a broken pool cue. Two of his prior offenses occurred when he was a teenager. Since his release, he has earned a logistics technician certification, remarried his longtime sweetheart, moved to New Jersey, and works full-time at a local hospital.
Robert Cheeks
Age 81, spent his last two years of incarceration housed in Donaldson Correctional Facility’s infirmary, alongside younger men recovering from beatings and stab wounds. After nearly 38 years in prison, Mr. Cheeks was released amidst cheers from prison staff. They all knew he did not need to be there.
Joe Bennett
Age 55, served more than two decades for robbery under the HFOA. The priors used to enhance his sentence were nonviolent drug and property crimes. Mr. Bennett is employed full-time at a tree service and lives in his own apartment.
Lee Davis
Age 71, spent 39 years incarcerated for a robbery conviction in which no money was taken and no one was injured. Mr. Davis served nearly four decades in Alabama prisons without a single disciplinary infraction and spent his time working for no pay in the Donaldson prison laundry, exercising, and doing his best to set an example for younger people in prison. Now Lee is enjoying life, spending time volunteering with Books To Prisons ministry, riding his new bike, walking his dog, and loving life.
Larry Garrett
Age 69, spent 37 years incarcerated for burglary convictions. For nearly four decades, he rose at 2:30 each morning to work in the prison kitchens, where he baked the bread. After his release, Larry attended truck driving school and quickly obtained his CDL. He now works for Western Express Trucking, traveling through 26 states in just two weeks and falling in love with Arizona!
Jerry Boatwright
Age 64, spent 34 years incarcerated for a burglary conviction. Less than three months later, Jerry has become invaluable to his family, as he now lives with and cares for his brother who suffered from a health crisis, even building a new ramp for their home for easier access.