Arkansas governor to commute life sentence of man convicted of robbing taco shop with water pistol
07/06/2021 11:21 am PDT
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (TCD) --
The Arkansas governor announced on Thursday, July 1, his intent to commute the prison sentence of Rolf D. Kaestel, a man convicted of aggravated robbery in 1981 in a crime in which Kaestel used a water pistol.
Kaestel, 70, was sentenced to life in prison in 1981. He robbed a taco shop in Fort Smith with a water pistol, KFSM-TV reports, and got away with $264 before he was caught.
The Arkansas Times reports Kaestel has been recommended before the parole board multiple times for commutation based on a clean prison record, the Arkansas Times reports, and both the victim in the case and the prosecutor have recommended his release.
Kaestel was sentenced to life in prison because of previous criminal convictions, the Times reports.
A 30-day waiting period for public comment is in effect before Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson’s decision becomes final, KFSM reports.
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