After spending 18 years in Guyana jails and U.S. federal prisons,
Larry Layton, the only man convicted on criminal charges arising from
the events of November 18, 1978, was released earlier this year. Larry's
parole came two years earlier than his previously-scheduled release
date of April 2004.
The early release culminated a six-year campaign during which members
of his family worked with a core of supporters, first to petition
then-President Clinton to commute Larry's sentence, then to convince
the Parole Commission to modify its earlier decision on a release
date.
Three witnesses appeared on Larry's behalf before a parole hearing
at the federal prison at Lompoc, California, including attorney Frank
Bell and Loren Buddress, the former Chief Probation Office for the
Northern District of California. But it was the testimony of Vern
Gosney, one of Larry's shooting victims at the Port Kaituma airstrip,
who traveled from Hawaii for the sole purpose of attending the hearing
and who delivered the most impassioned plea for Larry's release, that
apparently made the difference.
The parole examiner said he was "deeply troubled" that Larry had remained
in prison for so long -- well in excess of the five years recommended
by the sentencing judge -- and noted Larry's exemplary behavior while
in federal custody.
Larry shot and wounded two people at the Port Kaituma airstrip on
18 November 1978, and he attempted to shoot a third. The shootings
took place on one of the airplanes which were to take the party of
Congressman Leo Ryan to Georgetown after his visit to Jonestown. Extradited
to the U.S. after a Guyana jury found him not guilty of murder, Larry
was tried twice on four charges related to the shootings, including
Conspiracy to Kill a Congressman. The first trial ended in a hung
jury. A second jury convicted Larry, although four jurors took what
the trial judge called an "unprecedented" step of asking for leniency
in Larry's sentencing. Nevertheless, in 1991, a parole board ruled
that Larry would have to serve 20 years, and set his release date
for 2006. That date was later moved back to April 2004, after the
board credited him for his time in the Georgetown jail.
In 1996, the family and friends of Larry launched a campaign for a
presidential commutation. The petition for commutation filed with
the Pardon Attorney in 1997 included 87 letters of support from former
members of Peoples Temple, relatives of people who died in Jonestown,
former prisoners and prison officials who knew Larry, scholars of
religious studies and new religious movements, and members of the
clergy. In the weeks leading up to the White House decision on the
petition, a number of former congressmen and religious leaders --
including Rev. Philip Wogaman, President and Mrs. Clinton's pastor
in Washington, D.C. -- made additional pleas for commutation of Larry's
sentence. The campaign succeeded in making it to the Oval Office,
and seemed to be viable up until 20 January 2001, President Clinton's
last day in office, but Larry's name did not appear on the final list
of pardons and commutations.
Initially discouraged, Larry's family pressed ahead with the petition
for early release, collecting another 50 letters in support, including
letters from former Temple members and critics, numerous religious
leaders, and a former congressman. The letters were presented during
the hearing which resulted in a recommendation for Larry's release.
Larry now lives and works in Northern California.
