Gov. Polis pardons 27 people convicted of crimes in Colorado

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Friday granted 27 pardons to people convicted of various crimes in the state over the last several decades. 

One of those pardons went to Vanessa Peoples, who police charged with reckless endangerment in 2017 after her 2-year-old briefly wandered away from a family picnic. Her story has been cited in criticism of the child welfare system. 

Peoples, who also received a settlement from Aurora police over the use of excessive force during her arrest, struggled to find a job because of her conviction. She has since earned a nursing certificate from Emily Griffith Technical College, and her loved ones said her strength, work ethic, perseverance and determination have carried her “through extraordinary adversity.”  

“You have found the courage to speak out about your experiences and advocate for justice, bringing national attention to your case and support from people across the country,” Polis said in his pardon letter. 

Bruce Korum, who was convicted in 1975 of crimes related to the sale of marijuana in El Paso County, has since dedicated himself to living as a good member of his community, Polis said. 

“You ran a successful environmental construction business for 30 years with up to 50 employees, raised four children, and are now considering running for public office,” Polis said in his pardon letter. “I hope this pardon will provide a clean slate for you, allowing you to contribute even more to your family and community, as well as being able to hunt recreationally.”

In 2020, Polis pardoned 2,732 people for past marijuana convictions — the most people ever pardoned by a Colorado governor at one time.

Pardons are typically granted after someone’s sentence is complete, while a commutation is granted to someone still serving their sentence. Both are forms of clemency, which only the governor has the power to grant.

Timothy Cordova, whom Polis pardoned of a 2011 conviction of possession of a controlled substance, has maintained sobriety and established a career in property management. His friends describe him as dependable, hard working, dedicated and a caring father, Polis said. 

“I hope this pardon will remove barriers to housing, allow you to obtain professional licenses, and enable you to hunt with your son,” Polis said in his pardon letter. 

Polis granted pardons to people convicted of various drug crimes, trespassing, theft and criminal impersonation. Many of the people whose convictions he pardoned have gone on to obtain degrees and establish successful careers, maintain sobriety, start families and give back to their communities. 

Others pardoned include: Victor Arellano, Richard Batdorf, Luis Day, Mitchell Downing, Scott Ellison, Daniel Emmans, George Soon Fah, Matthew Focht, Craig Gipson, Phillip Hengemuhle, Ethan Hilton, Daniel Kelly, Thomas Knowles, Christina Latimore, Michael Low, Yeu Ly, DeAnna Martinez, Justin Mills, Sabrina Montoya, Joshua Moore, Walter Spangler, Veronica Stewart, Kelly Stoval and Jordan Wood.

Earlier in 2026, Polis faced intense backlash from the Democratic Party and bipartisan election experts after he commuted the prison sentence for Tina Peters, the former Mesa County clerk convicted for her role in a breach of her office’s election system.