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President Joe Biden announced on Monday he would commute the sentences of seven Texas inmates scheduled for execution. Hours later, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott disclosed he had pardoned four individuals for lower-level offenses.
Biden’s act affects 37 of the 40 inmates on federal death row, the Associated Press reported. At least five of the Texans scheduled for federal execution stabbed and killed fellow inmates.
“I’ve dedicated my career to reducing violent crime and ensuring a fair and effective justice system,” Biden said in a statement. “These commutations are consistent with the moratorium my administration has imposed on federal executions, in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder.”
Most of the seven who had their sentences commuted stabbed and killed other inmates.
Shannon Wayne Agofsky, who was serving a life sentence, beat another inmate to death in Beaumont.
Christopher Cramer and Ricky Allen Fackrell killed a fellow inmate in a stabbing in Beaumont.
Joseph Enbron stabbed another inmate to death in Beaumont.
Mark Isaac Snarr and Edgar Garcia fatally stabbed another inmate and injured two correctional officers in Beaumont.
Julian Omar Robinson killed two men in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
In a separate statement that coincided with Biden’s, Abbott said he wanted to use the power of clemency to give the people he pardoned, whose crimes included two instances of theft, selling alcohol to a minor, driving while intoxicated and interfering with an emergency call, a second chance.
It is the highest number of clemencies granted by Abbott, who can only issue them at the recommendation of the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole. The seven-member board is appointed by Abbott.
Abbott granted three pardons in 2023, two pardons in 2022 and eight in 2021 — for low-level offenses.
The individuals who were pardoned are:
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Jorge Aguilar-Zanatta, who did probation for interfering with an emergency call in 2003.
Rachael Orsak Lynch, who served a three-day jail sentence for theft by check in 1999 and paid a fine for furnishing alcohol to a minor in 2004.
Timothy John Moldenhauer, who served probation for driving while intoxicated and having an open container in 1993.
Debbie Rena Morris, sentenced to pay a fine for theft in 1985.
Earlier this year, Abbott pardoned Daniel Perry, who was convicted of murder in the death of a man who was participating in a 2020 protest of police brutality against people of color. He had been sentenced to 25 years in prison.
“Having served as a trial court judge, Texas Supreme Court Justice, and Attorney General, I have the utmost respect for the legal system and helping Tex
