Ark. governor will pardon his son’s drug conviction

Outgoing Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe said on Wednesday that he will pardon his son for a felony drug conviction, local media reported.

Beebe, who is set to leave office in January due to term limits, said he would pardon his son Kyle, now 34, for his 2003 felony conviction of marijuana possession with intent to deliver, local broadcaster KATV said.

“Kids, when they’re young, do stupid stuff. He was no different,” Beebe told KATV in an interview published online. “If they’ve straightened up, to get their life back on track and have a second chance, so this is no different. It’s different because it’s my son.”

Kyle Beebe was sentenced to 3 years supervised probation and fined, KATV reported. The Arkansas Parole Board last month recommended that he be pardoned, records on the agency’s website shows.

Governor Beebe said he has pardoned over 700 people, largely for nonviolent offenses, KATV said.

Curtis Skinner reported from San Francisco.