Oregon Gov. Brown Makes 1st Executive Pardons Of Her Tenure

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has pardoned three men for crimes they committed more than two decades ago. The pardons are Brown's first since taking office and remove criminal convictions from the men's records.

“Although clemency is appropriate only in rare cases, these applicants have distinguished themselves by learning from past mistakes and committing themselves to serving their communities," Brown said in a release.

Bryan Hockaday, a spokesman for the governor, said executive clemency is something Brown takes “very seriously.”

"She’s very involved in the review and certainly very attentive and involved in discussion prior to her making a decision,” Hockaday said.

Brown granted clemency to Timothy Haner, Abbas Moradi, and Brandon Buschbach. The three men have served sentences for crimes ranging from a marijuana related offense to driving with a suspended license, and promoting prostitution.

Since taking office, Brown has received 200 applications for pardons and denied 43 of them, Hockaday said.

Timothy Haner

In 1994, Haner was convicted of a marijuana related felony: manufacturing a Schedule I controlled substance. He spent 36-months on probation.

The Beaverton resident has since become a parent, coach of his son's sports teams and ran the city's "Library on Wheels" program, according to Brown's office.

The Multnomah County District Attorney's office supported Haner's pardon.

"Mr. Haner's willingness to share potentially unfavorable information and to have maintained his personal positive pro-social values thereafter suggests a matured sense of credibility and integrity and a positive reason in support of his clemency request," the county's DA office wrote in a letter.

Abbas Moradi

In 1989, Moradi worked as a taxicab driver. During his first day on the job, he drove a prostitute and her client to a motel room, Brown's office said. He pleaded guilty to promoting prostitution, a misdemeanor. Moradi paid fines and served probation.

The Clackamas resident operates an adult daycare facility, but in 2015 his license to operate was not renewed because of the conviction, Brown's office said.

Brandon Buschbach

In 1991, Buschbach was convicted for driving with a suspended license. He served a 24-month sentence of probation, Brown's office said.

Buschbach, from Gladstone, is a member of the Oregon National Guard and is a married father of three.