After spending a decade behind bars, a Southland man has been released from prison after his 15 years to life drug sentence was reduced by President Obama.
Cheryl Shiver and her family are counting down the hours until her son Keldren Joshua is out of prison. The 45-year-old spent the last 10 years in prison after being caught in a federal drug sting with four friends.
"He shouldn't be in this position. He, actually out of the four defendants, received the most time. He got 188, they got 80, 85 and 135 - so they've been done with their sentences and he's still there," she said.
The non-violent crime was Joshua's first offense, and Shiver said originally the district attorney agreed to a five-year plea deal, but that suddenly changed when Joshua had a prior record for traffic tickets.
"So he went from a five-year sentence to 15-to-life, and then ended up with the 15 years because it was the lowest end of the mandatory minimum that the judge could give him," Shiver said.
Joshua is one of nearly 600 inmates to have their sentences commuted by Obama since he's been in office. The sentences have been reduced for many because Obama says they are outdated and unduly harsh sentencing laws.
Shiver said she and her family plan to use Joshua's story in their fight to change sentencing guidelines for non-violent drug offenses.
"It's outrageous. It's disgraceful. It's mean. It's nasty. It's bitter that you would take traffic tickets and take a man's life away over traffic tickets," she said.
Shiver added that the U.S. needs a smarter and more equitable justice system, but until that happens she is going to enjoy the time she finally gets with her son.
He is expected to be released by 8 a.m. Wednesday.