The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board has denied a commutation request from Jerome Ersland, the former Oklahoma City pharmacist convicted of murder. Ersland's bid for an early release cited his deteriorating health and changes to the state's Stand Your Ground law as grounds for commutation. Representing Ersland, attorney Kendall Sykes highlighted his client's physical and mental decline, noting he has suffered a stroke, lost sight in one eye, and had a mass removed from his neck while in prison. According to a statement obtained by OKC FOX, "I can't even imagine how he makes it through another day."
Challenging the board's decision, Ersland is over 73 years old and currently resides in solitary confinement near death row, living without human contact throughout the year, as told NewsOn6. He was sentenced to life in prison for his actions during a 2009 attempted robbery at Reliable Discount Pharmacy, where he shot and killed a teenager after the failed heist. After initially incapacitating one of the robbers, surveillance footage captured Ersland shooting the unconscious Antwun Parker several more times.
During this week's hearing, Ersland's attorney referenced the changes in Oklahoma's Stand Your Ground Law, arguing that, under the updated statutes, Ersland might not have been as easily prosecutable. As mentioned in NewsOn6's coverage, Ersland's attorney stated, "His case helped create changes to the Stand Your Ground law for a person inside a business." Nonetheless, the 3-2 vote results remained unchanged from a similar 2018 appeal.
Despite his eligibility for minimum security, Ersland is kept in solitary confinement to ensure his safety, as it's unsafe for him to join the general prison population, possibly due to the gang affiliation of the teenager he killed. "Other people given a life sentence aren't living the way he is and that bothers me," Kevin Buchanan, a PPB member, echoed a sentiment reflected in the board's deliberations, as OKC FOX reported. These factors, however, did not sway the board enough to grant Ersland's early release request.
In his own words, Ersland had conveyed the gravity of his situation and his desire to reunite with family. According to a written statement on KFOR, Ersland said, "I will die in prison as I am 72 years old…and not eligible for parole until I’m 100. I would like to see my other two children before I die. I will never commit any other crime. I'd move back to my hometown and spend time with family and friends."
