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NEWS |
From the Office of Representative Shamed Dogan
98th District |
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For Immediate Release: February 18, 2015
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CONTACT: Rep. Shamed Dogan 573-751-4392
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Rep. Shamed Dogan Introduces Legislation to Free Jeff Mizanskey
Bill would provide for release of offenders serving a life sentence without parole for marijuana offenses
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – State Rep. Shamed Dogan introduced legislation this week to require the release of any offender currently serving a life sentence without parole for marijuana offenses. He said the bill would require the release of Jeff Mizanskey, who has been imprisoned for more than two decades and is serving a life sentence without parole solely for marijuana-related offenses.
“It is unconscionable to me that this man, who is no danger to society, will spend the rest of his life in prison at taxpayer expense. Many of my legislative colleagues have come together to implore the governor to commute Mr. Mizanskey’s life sentence, but to date the governor has done nothing more than promise to review Jeff’s case before he leaves office,” said Dogan, R-Ballwin. “I appreciate the governor’s willingness to eventually take interest in this case, but the time for justice is now. My legislation would allow immediate action to be taken so that this miscarriage of justice can be rectified and Jeff Mizanskey can again be a free man.”
Mizanskey has been convicted of three offenses involving the possession and sale of marijuana. After his third offense in 1993, Mizanskey was sentenced to a sentence of life without parole under Missouri’s prior and persistent drug offender statutes. The legislature has since passed revisions to those statutes eliminating the possibility of a life sentence being given to future marijuana-only offenders. Dogan noted that Mizanskey had never before done time in prison and was never convicted of any violent offenses. He also pointed out that Missouri taxpayers have paid nearly half a million dollars to date in order to incarcerate Mizanskey.
“I fully support long sentences for repeat violent offenders, because I believe the punishment should fit the crime. In Mr. Mizanskey’s case, I am outraged by the fact that someone who violated our marijuana laws is being treated as harshly as a murderer and incarcerated for life,” said Dogan. “I am hopeful my colleagues will join me to pass this bill into law so that we can right the scales of justice and grant Jeff Mizanskey the freedom he deserves.”
Dogan’s bill is HB 978.
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