VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) - Virginia’s governor has conditionally pardoned a Black man with autism who was sentenced to a decade in prison for a car crash that left a New York man severely disabled.
The Virginian-Pilot reported Monday that Matthew Rushin is expected to be released early next year.
Rushin’s family said he did not fully understand what he was doing when he pleaded guilty in Virginia Beach to malicious wounding and hit and run. And experts enlisted by the family said the crash was not intentional and that his autism played a role.
But Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney Colin Stolle said the sentence “was appropriate, just and fair.”
Last year, Rushin had gone out to get some pastries when he got into a minor accident in a parking lot and left the scene, authorities said. He then drove head-on into oncoming traffic and struck a Ford Explorer.
George Cusick, who was in the Explorer, was in a coma for weeks. He now lives in a nursing home and is unable to walk, talk or feed himself.
Authorities said witnesses told police that Rushin said he was trying to kill himself. Investigators determined that he was driving 65 mph (105 kph) and failed to hit the brakes.
Experts enlisted by the family said they believe Rushin was in a panic and mistakenly hit the gas pedal. They said he repeatedly denied that he had tried to kill himself in an interview with police.
An online petition seeking Rushin’s release gathered more than 200,000 signatures. Rushin’s mother, Lavern, said that much of the support came from the autism community and people involved in the Black Lives Matter movement.
Others pushing for Rushin’s release included Jason Flom, a music industry executive, philanthropist and advocate for the wrongly convicted. Others who reached out include author John Grisham, actress Jamie Lee Curtis and Tina Knowles, the mother of singer Beyonce.
The conditional pardon reduces Rushin’s sentence. But it does not wipe out his conviction, defense attorney Miriam Airington-Fisher said.
Rushin also will be on supervised probation for five years and must get mental health treatment, said Alena Yarmosky, a spokeswoman for Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam.
Rushin also can’t possess a firearm, operate a vehicle or contact the victims or their families. He can petition a judge to restore his driving rights in 10 years.
Danna Cusick, whose husband was left permanently disabled, said she believes the term “pardon” is a mischaracterization of what’s happening.
“It’s a reduction of sentence, that’s it,” she said. “He’s still a felon, he still has conditions he has to follow, he still can’t drive. This is no get out of jail free card.”
She said her husband’s life will never be the same.
“George is still in bad shape. He will always be in bad shape and our hearts will forever be broken,” she said.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.