Evers issues his first pardons, grants clemency to 4 people

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers has pardoned four convicted felons, marking the first time a governor has granted a pardon in Wisconsin since 2010.

Evers signed the pardons during private meetings Monday with the recipients.

Evers campaigned on the promise to reform the pardons board after his predecessor Scott Walker disbanded it and never issued a pardon over eight years.

Evers pardoned Eric Pizer, Kevin Sorenson, Mwangi Vasser and Steven Nichols.

Pizer is now 38 and has a felony conviction from a bar fight he got into when he was 22.

Sorenson is 36 and was convicted of selling the drug ecstasy at a party when he was 17.

Vasser is 40 and was 19 when he was arrested for selling cocaine.

The 62-year-old Nichols was convicted of felony burglary when he was 21.