No Way Out

Inmate Lonnie Morris is a role model, antiviolence program leader, and darling of the media. But will the parole board see past his crime?

A A A Comments By Ashley Harrell Wednesday, Jan 27 2010

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Scooting back to his chair, Morris searched Gillingham's face for clues. She remained focused on paperwork before her, perhaps thinking about the larger issues.

In her hands was the fate of a man who had committed society's most egregious crime: He killed somebody. An officer of the law. For no good reason. Now she was supposed to make a decision based on one thing and one thing alone: If released, does this man pose an unreasonable threat?

Frank Gaglione

Lonnie Morris prepares himself to face the parole board one more time.

Morris’ victim, Officer Robert Wheeler.

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The answer is pretty simple. Morris certainly doesn't appear to be dangerous. But there are deeper questions. Should society let a repentant murderer free, even as he refuses to fully submit to society's laws? How long must he wait for this privilege? How does society know when he's truly ready?

When thinking about whether Morris deserves his freedom, it's also hard to ignore the possibility that with his incredible story of redemption, he might make a difference in people's lives on the outside.

Without meeting the inmate's eyes, Gillingham called the meeting back to order. "In the matter of Lonnie Morris, M-O-R-R-I-S," she said, "the panel has reviewed all relevant information and determined that the prisoner poses a present risk of danger, a current, unreasonable risk, if released."

And that was that. For Morris, a parole denial used to mean waiting a year and then trying again. But in late 2008, voters passed Marsy's Law, a victim's-rights bill guaranteeing that prisoners denied parole cannot go back before the board for at least three years. So he will have to wait until Dec. 9, 2012.

Looking like he'd been punched, Morris retreated to a bench and waited to be taken back to the clinic, where he has been recovering from his hip replacement. Morris felt more certain than ever that he had been denied parole because he wouldn't give up his crime partner. But that realization didn't chip away one bit at his resolve to keep the secret. "My principles are saying that's the right thing to do," he said. "I am who I am, and they can't take that away from me."

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