JACKSON, Miss. — Gov. Tate Reeves has issued Executive Order 1591, granting executive clemency to Maurice Taylor after determining that Taylor’s 2015 sentence far exceeded the maximum penalty allowed under Mississippi law. This marks the second time Reeves has granted clemency since taking office.
Taylor, who pled guilty in February 2015 to conspiracy to sell a Schedule III controlled substance, received a 20‑year sentence with five years suspended. According to Mississippi Code § 97‑1‑1, the maximum lawful sentence for that offense at the time was five years.
Reeves said his office was contacted recently by Taylor’s post‑conviction counsel and provided court documents including the indictment, plea petition, sentencing order, and transcript. After reviewing the materials, Reeves said it became clear that Taylor’s sentence was more than triple the legal limit.
“Today, for the second time as governor, I have exercised my Constitutional authority to grant executive clemency by commuting an illegal sentence imposed on Maurice Taylor,” Reeves said. “These documents confirm that, like his brother, Maurice Taylor received a sentence more than three times longer than allowed under Mississippi law.”
Taylor has served more than 11 years, including credit for pretrial detention. Reeves said continuing to hold him beyond the five‑year statutory maximum would be “a miscarriage of justice.”
Executive Order 1591 commutes Taylor’s sentence to time served and directs the Mississippi Department of Corrections to release him within five days.
“When justice is denied to even one Mississippian, it is denied to us all,” Reeves said.
Bob Bakken provides content for DeSoto County News and its social media channels. He is an award-winning broadcaster, along with being a reporter and photographer, and has done sports media relations work with junior and minor league hockey teams. Along with his reports on this website, you will find this veteran media member providing sports updates on Rebel 95.3 FM Radio.
