RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Lawyers for a Virginia inmate with autism and an IQ of 69 have asked Gov. Terry McAuliffe to grant a conditional pardon so their client can get treatment.
Reginald Latson of Stafford County was sentenced last week to six months in jail for assaulting a correctional officer, one of three clashes he has had with law enforcement since 2010. He’s been jailed twice and held for long periods in solitary confinement. The 23-year-old Latson’s supporters attribute the incidents to an autism-related “fight or flight” reflex.
In a petition dated Monday, attorneys say it’s wrong to keep Latson locked up for his disabilities. They say a pardon would allow his immediate transfer to a secure treatment center in Florida.
McAuliffe’s office did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
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