Convicted rapist Gary Dotson, freed after six years in prison when his alleged victim recanted, is asking for a full pardon based on the results of a new scientific test he says refutes evidence presented at his 1979 trial.
Gov. James R. Thompson, who commuted Dotson's 25- to 50-year prison sentence three years ago, said he will wait for the recommendation of the Prisoner Review Board before deciding on a pardon.The governor said he expects the matter to be taken up by the review board at its September meeting.
The request for a full pardon was filed Monday by Dotson's attorney, Thomas M. Breen, who said that new genetic tests on an 11-year-old piece of evidence has cleared Dotson in the rape of Cathleen Crowell Webb.