Update: Tyrone Brown Closer to Freedom

Jan. 24, 2007 — -- Tyrone Brown, whose sentencing to life in prison for violating parole after smoking a marijuana cigarette outraged some legal observers, is another step closer to freedom.

The press secretary for Texas Gov. Rick Perry told ABC News that the parole board had voted on Jan. 19 to commute Brown's life sentence to time already served. Brown has been in prison for 16 years, and board members voted, 5-2, to commute the sentence.

That recommendation has now been sent to the governor's general council, which after review will send its own opinion to Perry. The governor is the only one who can order Brown's freedom, and his decision is expected within a month.

Brown, who is black, poor and without high-profile legal connections, was featured in a "20/20" report in November.

That report contrasted his harsh sentence with the mercy shown to another inmate, a white male who had been convicted of murder and then who had repeatedly violated his parole with cocaine use.

This inmate, who was from a wealthy family and had political connections and a private attorney, had his probation lifted. Both men were sentenced by the same Texas judge, Keith Dean.

The "20/20" story outraged viewers, many of whom had sent daily e-mails of support to Brown. Dallas voters did not re-elect Dean in November, and his replacement has written a letter to the parole board advocating Brown's release.

That judge was joined by the new Dallas district attorney in the request.

Dean also wrote a formal letter to the Texas parole board asking it to free Brown.

Dean wrote that he supported the district attorney's recommendation of release and agreed that, "Mr. Brown has been rehabilitated and no longer poses a risk to others or himself."

The response from Brown's story led to the formation of a Web site and protests. The pressure seems to be working.