Wauwatosa Resident Pardoned By Governor Thursday

WAUWATOSA, WI — One person from Wauwatosa was among 18 who were pardoned by Gov. Tony Evers on Thursday.

The Governor’s Pardon Advisory Board heard from applicants via a virtual meeting on June 23.

“A pardon won’t fix the challenges facing our criminal justice system, but it can have a tremendous impact on a person’s life,” Evers said in a statement. “Each of these people earned a pardon by serving their sentence and making positive contributions to society.”

According to the Governor's office, Elandis Peete was 18 years old when he sold cocaine to an undercover police officer.

Now in his 40s, he opened his own trucking business, and now mentors and hires formerly-incarcerated people to help them become productive members of the community, the governor's office said.

The Wisconsin Constitution grants the governor the power to pardon people who have been convicted of a crime. A pardon is an official act of forgiveness that restores some rights that are lost when someone is convicted of a felony, including the right to serve on a jury, hold public office, and hold certain professional licenses.

Under state law, people convicted of a Wisconsin felony can apply for a pardon if they completed their sentence at least five years ago and have not committed any new crimes. Those currently required to register on the sex offender registry are ineligible for a pardon.