Jackson Free Press

The JFP is featuring the stories of some of the people Gov. Haley Barbour pardoned, in their own words.

Jason Clint Moffitt
Benton County, 2009

Jason Moffitt comes from what of his letter of recommendation writers calls an "extremely fine and acknowledged family in Benton County." Jason's father, Jerry, was sheriff there and, after his death, his wife, Peggy served as sheriff until a special election took place. But in February 2008, the Moffitt family name was marred when a grand jury indicted Jason in a scheme to commit voter fraud. According to the indictment, Moffitt along with two other people conspired to influence the outcome of the August 2007 primary in which Moffitt was running for sheriff. The payoff: $20 to for the absentee vote of one woman. On Jan. 10, 2012 Moffitt received a full pardon.

In his clemency application he writes: The perp walk and media coverage from Memphis to Tupelo cause great humiliation and embarrassment for my family and myself. After the arrest, I sought employment in the private sector to no avail. I believe that this negative coverage had an effect on me personally not being able to get a job. Thus, I decided to start my own business. But with house arrest, I cannot perform the outfitter job hands-on because I cannot cross over state lines. With the time curfew, I cannot actively participate in the activities of my children for church, school, and social events. It is hard when your child questions why you go to these events in your vehicle and don't ride with them and you must leave before the event is over. My college major is in criminal justice. But having no gun rights has prohibited me from seeking employment in the career field that I have been educated for, trained for, and experience in! I have always been active in youth hunts with family and friends. Having no gun rights, I can't take part or even take my own son hunting. My daddy took me on my first gun hunt at the age of 8. My son has a bee-bee gun that I am trying to teach him the concepts of gun safety with. I had always been a law-abiding person and tried to set examples for the young people in our community. I had never had an arrest, never used tobacco, alcohol or drugs and my friends and young people knew that. This pardon would allow our family to get back to our normal way of life.