Bullock takes up Beach's clemency plea

HELENA (AP) — Gov. Steve Bullock is asking the Montana Board of Pardons and Parole to consider whether Barry Beach has served enough time in prison.

Bullock sent the board a letter Wednesday, less than a week before the board reviews Beach’s application for clemency in the 1979 killing of Kim Nees of Poplar.

The governor says the reasons for maintaining Beach’s 100-year sentence at taxpayer expense diminish every year. The board will consider whether Beach’s circumstances have changed enough to merit an investigation. If so, the board will hold a hearing and decide whether to recommend clemency.

Beach was released in 2011 to await a new trial, but later sent back to prison to finish his sentence when the state Supreme Court reversed a lower court judge.

Bullock has previously said it would be inappropriate for him to offer an opinion on Beach’s request before the process plays out. The governor’s letter was unusual in other respects. Board Executive Director Fern Johnson said she cannot recall any other time a sitting governor has weighed in on a parole board case before it reached his desk.