Alabama governor commutes death row inmate's sentence to life in prison without parole

Alabama Republican Gov. Kay Ivey decided Tuesday to commute the sentence of a death row inmate to life in prison without parole after multiple former public officials, and the current district attorney, raised doubts about his conviction.

The case centers around the 1995 murder of Jefferson County Deputy Sheriff William Hardy, who was shot twice in the head while working off-duty security at a hotel. 

Toforest Johnson, who was convicted of the murder, has maintained his innocence and claimed he was on the other side of town when the crime took place. Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr has said credible alibi witnesses could place Johnson elsewhere at the time of the crime, according to the Associated Press.

“When presented with Mr. Johnson’s case, I had concerns there was not enough direct evidence to carry out the most serious punishment, death,” Ivey said in a statement. “My decision is not a determination of innocence, but a recognition that the circumstances of this case justify commuting his death sentence to life imprisonment, without possibility of parole.”

Johnson is now the third death row inmate who Ivey has commuted the sentence of. She has overseen 27 executions.

Ty Alper, one of Johnson’s attorneys, said they are grateful to Ivey for “diligently reviewing" his client's case and "taking action to spare an innocent man from execution.” Alper added that the fight to overturn the conviction will continue.

“Toforest Johnson is innocent," Alper said. "Now it is up to the courts to overturn his conviction and grant him a new trial. We will keep fighting until he is home with his family."

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.