Colorado governor issues 22 pardons and commutes sentences of 4 people, including 2 men convicted of murder

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis announced Friday that he was pardoning 22 people and commuting the sentences of four others, including two men convicted of murder, keeping up the annual holiday deployment of his clemency powers. 

The two men convicted of murder whose life sentences without the possibility of parole were commuted are Rudy A. Giron and Ronald J. Janoushek.

Giron was convicted in Denver of first-degree murder in 1994 and will now be eligible for parole on Jan. 15, 2033. Giron, 57, is being held at the Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility.

The Denver Post reported in 1994 that Giron fatally shot Michael Sanchez, who was celebrating his 66th birthday, during a drive-by attack. The men had fought over a stolen necklace before the shooting.

“After your arrest, you were offered a plea deal of 32 years,” Polis wrote in a letter to Giron announcing his decision. “Instead, you went to trial and received a sentence of life without the possibility of parole. Despite this harsh sentence, you have maintained a positive outlook in prison and sought to better yourself.”

The governor noted that Giron obtained his high school equivalence diploma and was selected to live in a prison honor pod in 2014, which is designed for inmates who show dedication to bettering themselves. 

“Notably, the victim’s family in this case has advocated for your clemency application, stating that they have forgiven you, believe your sentence was too harsh and would like to see your sentence reduced so that you may be parole eligible,” Polis wrote. “You have taken accountability for your actions and recognize the mistakes you made in the past. You are remorseful and ready to advance to a new phase of life.”

Janoushek was convicted in Adams County of first-degree murder in 1993 and now will be eligible for parole Jan. 15, 2033. The 69-year-old is being held at the Colorado State Penitentiary. 

The Rocky Mountain News reported in 1993 that Janoushek murdered his girlfriend, Rose Marie Jenkins, during an argument in the parking lot of a bar in Brighton.

“You engaged in a victim offender dialogue with your victim’s family and consistently express remorse for your actions,” Polis wrote in a letter to Janoushek. “In addition, you have maintained your sobriety for 30 years. This remarkable commitment to those around you, coupled with the work you have done while incarcerated, supports granting your application.”

Polis on Friday also commuted the 154-year prison sentence of Travis Colvin, who was convicted in Arapahoe County in 1998 of sexual assault, attempted murder, motor vehicle theft, robbery and assault. The 63-year-old, who is currently imprisoned at the Limon Correctional Facility, will be eligible for parole on Jan. 15, 2028.

“The sentence for the crimes you committed is well beyond the typical range, a result of being given mandatory consecutive sentences on each of your charges. The law has since changed to give judicial officers more discretion as to whether sentences are consecutive or concurrent,” Polis wrote in a letter announcing his decision. “This unusually long sentence, coupled with the work you have done while incarcerated, supports granting your application.”

Court documents show Colvin was convicted alongside two other men in the armed robbery of a home that included the rape of one of its occupants.

The governor also cut short the 66-year prison sentence of Victor Clark, who was convicted of aggravated robbery and tampering with a victim or witness in El Paso County. The 46-year-old is being held at the Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility.

“You were given a 66-year sentence for participation in bank robberies that also involved other individuals,” Polis wrote to Clark. “While your shop was the center of this criminal conspiracy, your co-defendants received less severe punishments for the same crimes. This disparity, coupled with the work you have done while incarcerated, supports granting your application.”

Who Polis pardoned

The governor granted pardons Friday to the following people:

• Mary Arneson
• Cheryl Mohan-Athey
• Isaac Badgerow
• Wayne Balis
• Johnny Bishop
• Rachel Byers
• Jeffrey Davies
• Darrell Drewer
• Kent Frisbie
• Shawn Gilley
• Buck Glanz
• Gregory (Clay) Gordon
• Tyler Green
• Randy Gurthridge
• Christopher Hall
• Ryan Hanscom
• Michael Lovette
• Steve Salazar
• Brian Valish
• Steven Venable
• Ronnie West, Jr.
• Mark Young

West, 48, was sentenced in El Paso County to prison for stealing a camcorder in 1996, a crime that would have been a misdemeanor today. 

“You engaged in this crime and others at a time of personal difficulty in your youth, when you lacked family support,” Polis wrote in a letter to West, who was 22 at the time of his crime. “In recent years, you have devoted yourself to your family and children, and rededicated yourself to living as a good citizen.”

Davies was sentenced to prison more than 40 years ago after he pleaded guilty to possessing from 1 to 8 oz. of marijuana concentrate. Polis wrote that Davies has since obtained his bachelor’s degree, has held a steady job, and his attitude around marijuana possession has “changed immensely.”

You can read Polis’ clemency orders here and the letters he wrote to this year’s clemency recipients here.

Polis has pardoned people every year since he took office in 2019. He issued 21 pardons and commuted the sentences of seven people last year.