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A convicted murderer who turned his life around and now lives an “exemplarary” life has been pardoned by California Governor Jerry Brown, reports the Your Central Valley.
The pardon makes it less likely Vanna In will be deported back to Cambodia, although that it still a possibility. In, who is now a pastor and youth minister, was convicted of second degree murder for the death of a rival gang member in 1993, according to the Washington Post.
He was ordered deported in 2001, but the order was never executed because Cambodia refused to accept deportees at the time. That same year, he was released from prison.
“I wanted to come back and lay some roots, be grounded and give back as much as possible because Fresno is a part of me,” said In to Your Central Valley.
He now has three children, mentors youth and joined Hope Now for Youth.
Not everyone has welcomed his pardon, including President Trump.
“Some people want to continue to just label me as a murderer,” In told the Washington Post. “I get it, but it’s hard. I know that no matter how good I become or how far away I get, people will still see me a certain way. I’ve come to accept it. I’ve come to accept that’s the way it is.”
In was one of 36 people pardoned late last week by Brown, including two other Cambodian refugees who also faced deportation.
In pardoning In, the governor wrote “While the seriousness of the crime can never be minimized, I believe that Mr. In should be permitted to have the chance at remaining in a community to which he has devoted a life of service.”
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RE: California’s Governor Pardons Convicted Murderer and Pastor: I love In’s last statement – hoping that this country can continue to be forgiving. A beautiful soul. Thanks Governor Brown. Makes me think about another man my whole family went to protest his execution and support his pardon: Tookie. He too turned his life around and mentored youth while on death row for decades. He wasn’t so lucky.