Slick Rick Receives Pardon From Gov. Paterson

      Gov. David Paterson just announced his first gubernatorial pardon for Ricky "Slick Rick" Walters,  convicted in 1991 on attempted murder and weapons charges who now faces deportation to the United Kingdom.

      Walters, who is now 43, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder and eight weapons charges in connection with an incident in which he shot his cousin and an innocent bystander (both survived). He was released from prison in 1997 after serving six years of a 3.5-to-10-year term, and was then discharged from parole supervision in 2000.

      In 1995, Wlaters sought and received relief from deporation from an immigration court, but the decision was later vacated. He couldn’t re-apply due to his convictions, but will be eligible to due so now that Paterson has issued a "full and unconditional" pardon.

"Mr. Walters has fully served the sentence imposed upon him for his convictions, had an exemplary disciplinary record while in prison and on parole, and has been living without incident in the community for more than 10 years,” Paterson said in a press release.

“In that time, he has volunteered at youth outreach programs to counsel youth against violence, and has become a symbol of rehabilitation for many young people."

Given these demonstrated rehabilitative efforts, I urge federal immigration officials to once again grant Mr. Walters relief from deportation, so that he is not separated from his many family members who are United States citizens, including his two teenage children.”

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