ST. JOSEPH — It felt like heaven.
That’s how David Clayton sums up his emotional state the day he walked out of prison eight months ago.
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAmr=2JE@?[ ?@H cc[ 925 4@>>:EE65 2 >FC56C :? `hhc 2E 286 `f[ 2?5 E9@F89E 96 H2D 8@:?8 E@ 5:6 :? AC:D@?] $:?46 36:?8 C6=62D65[ r=2JE@? C676CD E@ 9:D D64@?5 492?46 2D E96 36DE 8:7E 6G6C]k^Am
kAm}@H[ 96’D >2<:?8 E96 >@DE @7 :E 2D 96 4@?E:?F6D E@ ?2G:82E6 E96 H@C=5 @FED:56 @7 AC:D@?]k^Am
kAmr=2JE@?[ =:G:?8 :? q6?E@? w2C3@C 2E E96 E:>6[ D9@E 2?5 <:==65 `f\J62C\@=5 $2>F6= |6CC:H62E96C @? pF8] b`[ `hhc] %96 D9@@E:?8 H2D 56E6C>:?65 E@ 36 82?8\C6=2E65] p q6CC:6? r@F?EJ %C:2= r@FCE ;FCJ 7@F?5 r=2JE@? 8F:=EJ @7 7:CDE\568C66 >FC56C[ 2?5 @? |2C49 `b[ `hhd[ 96 H2D 92?565 |:49:82?’D >2?52E@CJ D6?E6?46 @7 =:76 H:E9@FE A2C@=6]k^Am
kAmqFE :? a_`a[ :? E96 42D6 @7 |:==6C GD] p=232>2[ E96 &]$] $FAC6>6 r@FCE CF=65 E96 2FE@>2E:4 =:76 H:E9@FE A2C@=6 D6?E6?46 7@C 2 ;FG6?:=6 :D F?4@?DE:EFE:@?2=[ 2?5 E92E ;F586D D9@F=5 36 8:G6? E96 5:D4C6E:@? E@ D6?E6?46 2 ;FG6?:=6 <:==6C E@ 2 E6C> @7 J62CD]k^Am
kAm%96 9:89 4@FCE D2:5 E96 3C2:? @7 2 49:=5 :D ?@E 7F==J 56G6=@A65 2?5 72>:=J 324<8C@F?5[ C6=2E:G6 >2EFC:EJ[ E96 23:=:EJ E@ 492?86 2?5 @E96C 724E@CD D9@F=5 36 4@?D:56C65 H96? D6?E6?4:?8 2 ;FG6?:=6] x? a_`e[ E96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE >256 E96 CF=:?8 C6EC@24E:G6[ D@ @=5 42D6D H6C6 5FDE65 @77 2?5 E96 ?2E:@?’D a[d`_ ;FG6?:=6\=:76CD H@F=5 92G6 E96 A@DD:3:=:EJ @7 2 D64@?5 492?46]k^Am
kAm%96 |:49:82? s6A2CE>6?E @7 r@CC64E:@?D C6A@CED aca @7 E96 DE2E6’D bec ;FG6?:=6\=:76CD 92G6 366? C6D6?E6?465 E@ 2 E6C> @7 J62CD 2?5 @7 E9@D6[ `d` 92G6 366? C6=62D65] p>@?8 E9@D6 H9@ H6C6 C6=62D65[ @?=J @?6 92D C6@776?565[ E96 |s~r C6A@CE65]k^Am
kAm|@DE[ =:<6 r=2JE@?[ 2C6 5@:?8 H6== @? A2C@=6]k^Am
kAm(96? E96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE CF=65 >2?52E@CJ =:76 H:E9@FE A2C@=6 7@C 2 ;FG6?:=6 E@ 36 F?4@?DE:EFE:@?2=[ AC@D64FE@CD H6C6 8:G6? E96 492?46 E@ 7:=6 >@E:@?D D66<:?8 E@ C6D6?E6?46 E96 ;FG6?:=6 <:==6CD E@ =:76 H:E9@FE A2C@=6] %96?\q6CC:6? r@F?EJ !C@D64FE@C |:4926= $6A:4 5:5 E92E :? q6CC:6?’D `a ;FG6?:=6\=:76C 42D6D]k^Am
kAmp7E6C 7FCE96C C6G:6H[ $6A:4 =2E6C H:E95C6H E96 >@E:@? :? r=2JE@?’D 42D6 2?5 EH@ @E96CD]k^Am
k9bm‘x H2?E65 E@ 8:G6 324<’k^9bm
kAm~? yF?6 f[ a_`g[ q6CC:6? r@F?EJ %C:2= r@FCE yF586 $4@EE $49@7:6=5[ ?@H C6E:C65[ C6D6?E6?465 r=2JE@? E@ b_\e_ J62CD] (:E9 4C65:E 7@C E:>6 D6CG65 2?5 4C65:E 7@C 8@@5 E:>6 :? AC:D@?[ 96 3642>6 6=:8:3=6 7@C A2C@=6 :? pAC:= @7 E9:D J62C]k^Am
kAmx? 2 A9@?6 :?E6CG:6H 7C@> 9:D 9@>6 :? r2=:7@C?:2[ r=2JE@? D2:5 96 H2D A2C@=65 pAC:= af[ 2?5 H2=<65 @FE @7 AC:D@? E9C66 52JD =2E6C]k^Am
kAmw6 H:== 36 @? A2C@=6 F?E:= pAC:= af[ a_ab[ 2?5 :D =:G:?8 H:E9 9:D >@E96C 2?5 DE6A72E96C]k^Am
kAm“%96J 92G6 366? E96C6 7@C >6 E9:D H9@=6 E:>6[” 96 D2:5] “%96J’G6 AC@G:565 >6 H:E9 2 9@>6[ 7@@5 2?5 EC2?DA@CE2E:@?] x 5:5?’E H@C< 7@C E96 7:CDE E9C66 E@ 7@FC >@?E9D 3642FD6 E96J H2?E65 >6 E@ 86E 244=:>2E65 E@ =:76 @FED:56 @7 AC:D@?[ 2?5 E96J 5:5?’E H2?E >6 E@ 86E 7CFDEC2E65]”k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 96 :D ?@H H@C<:?8 7F==\E:>6 2D 2 H2C69@FD6 C646:G6C 2E w@@?:82?[ 2 >@E@C DA@CED 4@>A2?J[ 2?5 H2D AC@>@E65 E@ E96 A@D:E:@? @7 2 =625 @? 9:D D9:7E]k^Am
David Clayton drives a forklift at his job at Hoonigan in California. Clayton was sentenced to life without parole after being convicted of murder at age 17. The U.S. Supreme Court has since ruled the mandatory life without parole sentence for juveniles is unconstitutional and Clayton has been released from prison.
Photo provided
kAm“|J A2C6?ED 2C6 ~z H:E9 >6 DE2J:?8 96C6[” 96 D2:5] “%96J 5@?’E H2?E >6 E@ 72== @? >J 7246] x 5@?’E 92G6 2 AC@3=6> H:E9 H@C<:?8 >J H2J FA] x’> :? E9:D 7@C E96 =@?8 92F=]”k^Am
kAm!C:@C E@ 86EE:?8 2 ;@3[ r=2JE@? D2:5 96 G@=F?E66C65 2E 2 4@>>F?:EJ @C82?:K2E:@? E92E 5:DEC:3FE6D 7@@5 2?5 @E96C 96=A E@ E96 ?665J]k^Am
kAm“x H2?E65 E@ 8:G6 324< E@ E96 4@>>F?:EJ[ 6G6? :7 :E’D ?@E E96 D2>6 4@>>F?:EJ x :>A24E65 ?682E:G6=J[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmr=2JE@? D2:5 96’D C6>@CD67F=[ 2?5 9:D C@25 E@ C656>AE:@? 3682? :? AC:D@?]k^Am
kAm“%96C6 2C6 2 =@E @7 J@F?8 A6@A=6 4@>:?8 :?E@ AC:D@?[ 2?5 x >6?E@C65 E96>[ ECJ:?8 E@ D9@H E96> E96C6 :D 2 36EE6C H2J[” 96 D2:5] “x E2=<65 E@ 2 =@E @7 8FJD @G6C E96 J62CD[ 2?5 x 36=:6G6 x :>A24E65 8FJD :? A@D:E:G6 H2JD]”k^Am
kAmr=2JE@? D2:5 96 3682? >6?E@C:?8 J@F?8 AC:D@?6CD 367@C6 96 6G6C =62C?65 96 4@F=5 92G6 2 492?46 2E C6=62D6]k^Am
kAm“x 925 4@>6 E@ E96 C62=:K2E:@? E92E x H2D 8@:?8 E@ 5:6 :? AC:D@?] x’> G6CJ C6>@CD67F=[ ?@E ;FDE 3642FD6 x 8@E 42F89E] v@5 925 D@>6E9:?8 7@C >6[ 2?5 >6?E2==J[ :E >256 >6 DEC@?86C[” 96 D2:5] “x 42?’E 492?86 H92E 92AA6?65[ 3FE :E 4=:4<65 7@C >6 AC6EEJ BF:4<=J E92E 3692G:@C :? AC:D@? >2EE6CD] x’G6 DE@AA65 3=2>:?8 @E96CD] x H2?E65 E@ 492?86 7@C >JD6=7 – 6G6? :7 x H2D 8@:?8 E@ 5:6 369:?5 32CD]”k^Am
k9bm%96 724E@CDk^9bm
kAmq67@C6 C6D6?E6?4:?8 r=2JE@? E@ 2 E6C> @7 J62CD[ yF586 $49@7:6=5 ?@E65 E92E :E H2D 92C5 E@ :>28:?6 2 9@>6 6?G:C@?>6?E H@CD6 E92? E96 @?6 :? H9:49 r=2JE@? 8C6H FA]k^Am
kAm%96 ;F586 D2:5 r=2JE@? 925 2? 23FD:G6 72E96C 2?5 2? 2=4@9@=:4 DE6A>@E96C H9@ E@@< 9:> H:E9@FE 9:D >@E96C’D A6C>:DD:@?[ 2?5 3C@F89E 9:> E@ q6?E@? w2C3@C[ H96C6 96 =@@<65 E@ @=56C >2=6D :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ 7@C =@G6[ DFAA@CE[ 8F:52?46[ AC@E64E:@? 2?5 D64FC:EJ]k^Am
kAmpE 286 `a[ 96 ;@:?65 E96 v2?8DE6C s:D4:A=6D[ 2?5 E96J FD65 9:> E@ E96:C @H? 25G2?E286[ E96 ;F586 D2:5]k^Am
kAm$@7:2 }6=D@? @7 E96 $E2E6 pAA6==2E6 s676?56C ~77:46[ 92D C6AC6D6?E65 D6G6C2= @7 |:49:82?’D ;FG6?:=6\=:76CD[ :?4=F5:?8 r=2JE@?] $96 42==65 9:>[ “!C@@7 E92E E96 &]$] $FAC6>6 r@FCE H2D 4@CC64E]”k^Am
kAm“p A6CD@? 42? 5@ E6CC:3=6 E9:?8D 2D 2 49:=5[ 2?5 5@ 8C62E E9:?8D :? D@4:6EJ 2D 2? 25F=E[” D96 D2:5] “%96D6 42D6D 2C6 :?4C65:3=J 6>@E:@?2=] xE’D :?4C65:3=J C6H2C5:?8 D66:?8 E96D6 5676?52?ED 86E 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ C6F?:E6 H:E9 E96:C 72>:=:6D] p?5 :E’D 962CE3C62<:?8 H96? E96 4@FCE 5@6D?’E >2<6 E92E 564:D:@?] |J 4=:6?ED 92G6 E2F89E >6 2 =@E 23@FE 9@A6 2?5 C6D:=:6?46]”k^Am
k2D:56 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E E?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E\BF@E6 E?4>D\:?=:?6\2=:8?>6?E\46?E6C E?4>D\:?=:?6\H:5E9\7F==Qmk9cm!F==BF@E6k^9cmk3=@4<BF@E6mkAmQx H2?E65 E@ 8:G6 324< E@ E96 4@>>F?:EJ[ 6G6? :7 :E’D ?@E E96 D2>6 4@>>F?:EJ x :>A24E65 ?682E:G6=J]Q — s2G:5 r=2JE@?k^Amk^3=@4<BF@E6mk^2D:56m
kAm$6A:4 92D C6E:C65[ 3FE 2D E96 7@C>6C 4@F?EJ AC@D64FE@C[ 96 H2D D:8?:7:42?E=J :?G@=G65 :? 2== E96 ;FG6?:=6\=:76C 42D6D]k^Am
kAmx? 2 C646?E :?E6CG:6H H:E9 %96 w6C2=5\!2==25:F>[ $6A:4 D2:5 =2HJ6CD :? E96 $E2E6 pAA6==2E6 s676?56C ~77:46 E9@F89E 96 D9@F=5 ?@E 92G6 7:=65 >@E:@?D E@ FA9@=5 E96 =:76 H:E9@FE A2C@=6 D6?E6?46D 7@C 2== @7 q6CC:6? r@F?EJ’D ;FG6?:=6\=:76CD]k^Am
kAm“qFE x E9@F89E H6 D9@F=5] %96C6 H2D ?@ 7@C>F=2 E@ 7:8FC6 E9:D @FE[” 96 D2:5] “%9:D H2D 2 4@>A=6E6=J ?6H 5J?2>:4[ 2?5 H6 925 E@ =6E E96 ;F586D 7:8FC6 @FE H96C6 E96D6 42D6D 76==]”k^Am
kAmq67@C6 H:E95C2H:?8 9:D >@E:@? :? r=2JE@?’D 42D6 2?5 EH@ @E96CD[ $6A:4 D2:5 96 4@?DF=E65 H:E9 >FC56C G:4E:>D’ 72>:=:6D[ H96? E96J 4@F=5 36 =@42E65]k^Am
kAm“~7 E9@D6 H6 H6C6 23=6 E@ 4@?E24E[ E96J 2446AE65 @FC E9@F89ED @? E96 42D6D[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
k9bmr=2JE@? :? 4@FCEk^9bm
kAmpE 9:D C6D6?E6?4:?8 962C:?8 62C=:6C E9:D J62C[ r=2JE@? E@=5 yF586 $49@7:6=5 E92E :? `hhh[ H9:=6 :? AC:D@?[ 96 C6?@F?465 9:D 82?8 277:=:2E:@? – 2E C:D< E@ 9:>D6=7]k^Am
kAm“x E9@F89E E96J H6C6 >J 7C:6?5D[ 2?5 x E9@F89E E96J 42C65 23@FE >6] %96J H6C6?’E[ 2?5 E96J 5:5?’E[” r=2JE@? E@=5 %96 w! :? 2 C646?E :?E6CG:6H]k^Am
kAmw6 3682? EFE@C:?8 2?5 >6?E@C:?8 J@F?8 AC:D@?6CD 2?5 D:?46 a__c 925 E96 =@H6DE A@DD:3=6 D64FC:EJ C:D< D4@C6 2 AC:D@?6C 42? 92G6]k^Am
kAmpE E96 C6D6?E6?4:?8 962C:?8[ 2 4@FD:? @7 |6CC:H62E96C[ r=2JE@?’D G:4E:>[ E@=5 E96 ;F586 E92E 2=E9@F89 96C 72>:=J 925 DF776C65[ D96 76=E 6>A2E9J 7@C r=2JE@?[ 8:G6? E96 6?G:C@?>6?E D@>6 <:5D H6C6 8C@H:?8 FA :? E96 J62C @7 E96 >FC56C – H9:49 D96 C676CC65 E@ 2D @?6 @7 E96 >@DE 5625=J J62CD 6G6C :? q6?E@? w2C3@C]k^Am
David Clayton changes his shoes as he prepares to leave prison in April 2021. Clayton was paroled April 27, and walked out of prison three days later.
Photo provided
kAm“x’> D@CCJ E9:D 92AA6?65 E@ J@F[” D96 E@=5 r=2JE@?] “*@FC 72>:=J 36:?8 4C2AAJ[ >J 72>:=J 36:?8 4C2AAJ ]]] %9:D H2D 9@CC:3=6[ 3FE :E H2D?’E 2== J@F[ 2?5 x H2?E J@F E@ <?@H E92E]”k^Am
kAm#682C5:?8 }6=D@?’D 4@>>6?E E92E E96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE 8@E :E C:89E[ $6A:4 D2:5[ “%96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE 2=D@ 8@E :E C:89E E92E E96C6 :D C@@> 7@C =:76 H:E9@FE A2C@=6]”k^Am
kAmx? EH@ @7 q6CC:6? r@F?EJ’D ;FG6?:=6\=:76C 42D6D[ ;F586D 92G6 FA96=5 E96 D6?E6?46 @7 =:76 H:E9@FE A2C@=6] %96J 2C6 t7C2? !2C656D yC][ H9@ @? |2C49 g[ `hgh[ D9@E 2?5 <:==65 E96 ?:89E >2?286C 2E E96 DE@C6 H96C6 E96J 3@E9 H@C<65j 2?5 %@>>J #:492C5D[ H9@ :? `hgf <:5?2AA65[ C2A65 2?5 <:==65 2 `_\J62C\@=5 8:C=]k^Am
k9bm|:==6C 962C:?8Dk^9bm
kAmx7 2 AC@D64FE@C 7:=6D 2 >@E:@? E@ FA9@=5 E96 =:76 H:E9@FE A2C@=6 D6?E6?46 :? E96 42D6 @7 2 ;FG6?:=6[ E6DE:>@?J :D E2<6? :? H92E :D 42==65 2 |:==6C 962C:?8[ E@ 56E6C>:?6 E96 5676?52?E’D 72E6]k^Am
kAmpE E96 |:==6C 962C:?8 7@C #:492C5D[ AC@D64FE@CD A=2J65 2 C64@C5:?8 @7 2 A9@?6 42== 7C@> AC:D@? :? H9:49 #:492C5D E@=5 2 8:C=7C:6?5[ “x’> 8@:?8 E@ D2J H92E6G6C x 92G6 E@ D2J E@ 86E @FE]”k^Am
kAm!C:D@? @77:4:2=D E6DE:7:65 23@FE 9:D >2?J >:D4@?5F4E C6A@CED @G6C E96 J62CD[ :?4=F5:?8 :==682= D6IF2= 6?4@F?E6CD H:E9 2 G:D:E@C]k^Am
kAmx? !2C656D’ 42D6[ 96’D ?6G6C 25>:EE65 E@ E96 <:==:?8 @7 #:492C5 %6KE=277 2E E96 #@86C’D ':?6=2?5 DFA6C>2C<6E :? $E] y@D6A9 %@H?D9:A[ >2:?E2:?:?8 @G6C E96 J62CD E92E 96 H2D D6E FA 3J @E96CD] qFE 2 q6CC:6? r@F?EJ ;FCJ 5:D28C665[ 7:?5:?8 9:> 8F:=EJ @7 E96 <:==:?8]k^Am
kAmu24E@CD 2 ;F586 >FDE 4@?D:56C 5FC:?8 2 |:==6C 962C:?8[ 36D:56D E96 724ED @7 E96 4C:>6[ 2C6 E9:?8D DF49 2D E96 5676?52?E’D 286 2?5 C6=2E:G6 >2EFC:EJ 2E E96 E:>6 @7 E96 <:==:?8[ 72>:=J 324<8C@F?5[ AC:@C 4C:>:?2= C64@C5 2?5 2 56>@?DEC2E:@? @7 C6>@CD67F=?6DD 2?5 2? 23:=:EJ E@ 492?86]k^Am
kAm$6A:4 ?@E65 E92E !2C656D 925 ?6G6C 25>:EE65 E@ <:==:?8 %6KE=277[ 2?5[ “w@H 42? J@F 36 D@CCJ 7@C D@>6E9:?8 E92E J@F D2J J@F 5:5?’E 5@n”k^Am
kAmw6 2=D@ D2:5 !2C656D 925 5@?6 H6== :? D49@@=[ 925 2 ;@3 2?5 2 962=E9J 49:=59@@5[ 2?5 H2D >2EFC6 36J@?5 9:D J62CD H96? 96 4@>>:EE65 >FC56C]k^Am
kAm#682C5:?8 E96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE’D CF=:?8 E92E =:76 H:E9@FE A2C@=6 D9@F=5 @?=J 36 8:G6? E@ E96 “C2C6” ;FG6?:=6 H9@ :D 56E6C>:?65 ?@E E@ 36 42A23=6 @7 492?86[ $6A:4 ?@E65 E92E @7 E96 be ;FG6?:=6D H9@ H6C6 492C865 H:E9 D@>6 7@C> @7 >FC56C 36EH66? `hg_ 2?5 a_`e[ ;FDE `a H6C6 EC:65 2?5 4@?G:4E65 @7 7:CDE\568C66 >FC56C 2?5 E96 @E96C ac 8@E A=62 562=D @C H6C6 7@F?5 8F:=EJ @7 =6DD6C 492C86D]k^Am
kAm~7 E96 `a 4@?G:4E65 @7 7:CDE\568C66 >FC56C[ ;FDE EH@ 92G6 366? C6D6?E6?465 E@ =:76 H:E9@FE A2C@=6]k^Am
kAm“%96 be 36EH66? `hg_ 2?5 a_`e :D @?6 2 J62C[ 2?5 H6 >256 E96 564:D:@? 62C=J @? E@ EC62E ac @7 E96 be :? 2 >@C6 =6?:6?E =:89E[ 2?5 @7 E96 C6>2:?:?8 `a[ ;FDE EH@ @7 be 92G6 =:76 H:E9@FE A2C@=6[” $6A:4 D2:5]k^Am