Charles “Chris” Harbison is requesting a condition pardon from Governor Ralph Northam.  Specifically, we are requesting a reduction of his sentence to time served in light of the fact that he is innocent of the crimes for which he remains imprisoned.  Chris has been incarcerated since December 2001.

At the age of 18, Chris pled guilty to First Degree Murder, abduction and other charges.  The court sentenced him to 153 years, with 110 suspended, for a total sentence to serve of 43 years.  Despite his innocence, Chris pled guilty because his trial attorney pressured him into pleading guilty on the first day of the trial going as far as to misrepresent the existence of a plea agreement and its terms.  After his plea, Chris quickly replaced his attorney and moved to withdraw the plea, but continued defective assistance by a subsequent series of attorneys. 

Even though evidence demonstrating Chris’s innocence was available prior to his guilty plea, his trial counsel failed to examine it and did not provide it to the court.  Since his plea, additional evidence has been developed further demonstrating Chris’s innocence.  But this evidence as well has never been squarely addressed by a court, due, again, to incompetent attorneys and missed deadlines.  The totality of the evidence paints the undeniable picture that Chris pled, was sentenced, and has served almost 18 years for crimes he did not commit.  While the legal profession and system has failed Chris, the governor can act to end this travesty of justice by commuting Chris’s sentence.

While Chris has been serving time with the Virginia Department of Corrections he has completed Bible college courses through the American Bible Academy, which he has obtained certificates for every course, and maintains a 4.0 GPA.  Chris has also completed the Anger Management Treatment program while incarcerated.  In addition to his college courses and treatment program, Chris also received his certification in Custodial Maintenance.  In order to receive this certification, Chris had to take multiple classes and training over a period of months.  Chris has signed up for more classes and programs, however the waiting list to enroll in the classes is long and the first available spots tend to go to those inmates who are closer to release.

Upon release, Chris has multiple job opportunities awaiting him.  Not only does Chris have multiple job opportunities awaiting him, he has a strong foundation in place with his family.  On December 23, 2016, Chris lost his Grandmother who was 92 years old; and on December 23, 2018, Chris lost his mother after a long battle with cancer.  Chris still has a strong support system upon release which consists of his wife, his dad, and my family as they are fully supportive of Chris as well.

We are asking for this conditional pardon so that Chris Harbison can begin to put the pieces back together in his life as a positive, productive member of society.  We strongly believe that Chris deserves the chance to be successful.  For all of the years that he has lost, he has been inspired to be better and do more with his life given the opportunity.

Thank you for taking the time to read and sign this petition in support of Charles “Chris” Harbison.  Please feel free to share this petition.

Please see below contact information if you would like to contact Governor Ralph Northam in support of Chris’s conditional pardon.

Mailing Address

Honorable Ralph Northam

P.O. Box 1475

Richmond, VA 23218

 

Phone

804-786-2211

Email

https://www.governor.virginia.gov/constituent-services/communicating-with-the-governors-office/