Not Guilty, Sentenced to Life: ‘Waverly Two’ gets to go home after decades as Biden grants clemency
SUSSEX COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Ferrone Claiborne and Terence Richardson, two men who were acquitted of the 1998 murder of a Sussex County police officer and yet were still sentenced to life, will get to go home after decades of imprisonment. On Friday, Jan. 17, President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of nearly 2,500 individuals. Among them were Claiborne and Richardson, whom 8News previously reported requested such clemency in 2022. These two men, known by some as the "Waverly Two," have been fighting for their freedom for years, with their legal battle to prove their innocence reaching the Supreme Court. Their efforts have been supported by many, including the daughter of Officer Allen Gibson, who was found shot dead with his own service weapon. The incident reportedly took place during a drug bust. ALL COVERAGE: Not Guilty, Sentenced to Life -- Case against Ferrone Claiborne and Terence Richardson Following a lengthy court process -- during which those close to the case told 8News that the evidence against them was lacking -- Claiborne and Richardson were ultimately acquitted by a federal jury of Gibson's murder. However, in an unusual move, they still received a life sentence in 2001 when being tried for a related drug charge. Previously, a legal analyst told 8News that it was a "miscarriage of justice" to cross-reference a charge someone had been acquitted of when sentencing, adding that he had never seen that before. Now that Biden has granted the "Waverly Two" clemency, they will be released from prison and get to return home. 8News reached out to Attorney General Jason Miyares' office for comment, as he has historically opposed Claiborne and Richardson's release. A spokesperson for his office said Miyares was "not in a position to comment due to pending litigation." This is a developing story, stay with 8News for updates.
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SUSSEX COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Ferrone Claiborne and Terence Richardson, two men who were acquitted of the 1998 murder of a Sussex County police officer and yet were still sentenced to life, will get to go home after decades of imprisonment.
On Friday, Jan. 17, President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of nearly 2,500 individuals. Among them were Claiborne and Richardson, whom 8News previously reported requested such clemency in 2022.
These two men, known by some as the "Waverly Two," have been fighting for their freedom for years, with their legal battle to prove their innocence reaching the Supreme Court.
Their efforts have been supported by many, including the daughter of Officer Allen Gibson, who was found shot dead with his own service weapon. The incident reportedly took place during a drug bust.
ALL COVERAGE: Not Guilty, Sentenced to Life -- Case against Ferrone Claiborne and Terence Richardson
Following a lengthy court process -- during which those close to the case told 8News that the evidence against them was lacking -- Claiborne and Richardson were ultimately acquitted by a federal jury of Gibson's murder.
However, in an unusual move, they still received a life sentence in 2001 when being tried for a related drug charge. Previously, a legal analyst told 8News that it was a "miscarriage of justice" to cross-reference a charge someone had been acquitted of when sentencing, adding that he had never seen that before.
Now that Biden has granted the "Waverly Two" clemency, they will be released from prison and get to return home.
8News reached out to Attorney General Jason Miyares' office for comment, as he has historically opposed Claiborne and Richardson's release. A spokesperson for his office said Miyares was "not in a position to comment due to pending litigation."
This is a developing story, stay with 8News for updates.
