Urge Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland to Give Clemency to Jason Getsy

July 17, 2009

Jason A. Getsy - Ohio State Prisoner #A330-121

The Ohio Parole Board with seven (7) members participating, by a vote of five (5) to two (2) recommends to the Honorable Ted Strickland, Governor of the State of Ohio, that executive clemency be GRANTED in the form of a Commutation to Life without the possibility of parole for Jason A. Getsy #A330-121.

The following factors were said to be pivotal to the majority's recommendation for executive clemency:

1. Four defendants participated in the offense. Mr. Santine, the person who organized the murder plan, exerted considerable influence over the co-defendants. It is noteworthy that at Mr. Getsy's trial, the state minimized Mr. Santine's influence; at John Santine's trial, it was the state's primary theory of guilt - his influence over the other defendants. It is clear that neither Hudach, McNulty, nor Getsy would have engaged in the behavior that led to the tragic death of Ann Serafino in the absence of John Santine's direction.

2. More than one justice (judge) has assigned Mr. Santine a greater level of culpability than Mr. Getsy.

3. John Santine was acquitted of hiring Mr. Getsy, yet then, 19 year-old Getsy was convicted of being hired by Santine.

4. Mr. Gesty's original jury was limited in their ability to consider Getsy's psychological history and any influence it may have had upon his decision to comply with the direction of Mr. Santine.

5. Mr. Getsy has continuously expressed remorse for the victims and their family and has an excellent institutional adjustment, and would likely do well in general population.

6. In imposing a death sentence, it is imperative that we have consistency and similar penalties imposed upon similarly situated co-defendants.

[Ben Hudach: 20 years to life, Richard McNulty; 30 years to life, John Santine: 20 years to life, Jason Getsy: Death by lethal injection August 18, 2009]

7. After careful consideration of all facts, the majority of the Ohio Parole Board recommends that Executive Clemency is warranted in this case

Governor Strickland has received the Parole Board's recommendation. He may concur with it, issue an order of executive clemency, and commute Mr. Getsy's sentence from death by lethal injection to life imprisonment without eligibility for parole.

If you wish, you may encourage the Governor to agree with the majority recommendation of the Parole Board and commute Mr. Getsy's sentence to life imprisonment without eligibility for parole.

Send your comments to:

Governor Ted Strickland

Governor's Office

Riffe Center, 30th Floor

77 South High Street

Columbus, OH 43215-6108

Phone/Fax

General Info: (614) 466-3555

Fax: (614) 466-9354

Online form:

http://www.governor.ohio.gov/Assistance/ContacttheGovernor/tabid/150/Default.aspx