Board denies pardon request of man accused in father’s death

By Cy Ryan

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009 | 1:11 p.m.

CARSON CITY – The state Pardons Board has denied the request of Conan Pope to be pardoned of the crime of killing his father.

Pope was 15 when he fatally shot Frank Pope in 2000 and he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and use of a deadly weapon. He told the board he wanted to be pardoned with the right to bear arms so he could join the military.

Justice Michael Cherry, who handled the case while a district judge, called it “the most unique prosecution I have ever seen.” And Pope survived prison while he was only 15 years old, Cherry said.

Joining Cherry in voting to approve the application was Justice Mark Gibbons.

But Chief Justice James Hardesty said Pope has not spent a sufficient time on parole.

The board is composed of the governor, attorney general and the justices of the Nevada Supreme Court.

Attorney Kristina Wildeveld, representing Pope, said this was not an ordinary murder case.

The father was sentenced to prison for four years for killing his infant daughter in the 1960s. And he allegedly admitted to killing another daughter. Conan Pope, at his sentencing, told Judge Cherry that he and his sister were sexually and physically abused by the father.

Wildeveld said Pope wants to “wipe the slate clean.” Pope can’t get a job once his manslaughter conviction is revealed.

Steven Owens of the Clark County District Attorney’s Office opposed the commutation. He said it would “encourage vigilantism” and Pope has only been out of prison two years. He said there should be a “longer track record” to judge whether he can stay clean.

Pope initially was sentenced in 2001 to consecutive sentences of 24 to 90 months in prison. He served six years before being parole.

The board voted for a pardon for Christopher Larsen, now 60, who was convicted of first degree murder 35 years ago. But the board refused to give him the right to bear arms.

Attorney Tom Viloria, representing Larsen, told the board that Larsen has led a successful life after being in prison five-and-a-half years. He has held a job for the past eight years, Viloria said.

Larsen’s sentence was previously reduced by the Pardons Board to allow him to seek parole and he was paroled. Viloria said Larsen is required to report in person once every three months to the parole officer.