MILWAUKEE (WKOW) — In the past year, the state of Wisconsin has renewed the call to give non-violent offenders a second chance.
Gov. Tony Evers created a pardon advisory board that issued its first pardons in October 2019, the first in Wisconsin in nine years.
As of mid-September, the board has pardoned 65 people.
Now, one Milwaukee man is finally achieving his dreams and will use his experience to help others on their journey to redemption.
For 17 years, Doyle Sprewer has tried to put his past behind him. A 2003 felony marijuana conviction has kept him from getting countless jobs over the years.
“It’s hard to put in words sometimes because it’s like it was a dream, like a kid dreaming, waiting on Christmas, but Christmas never came. And finally Christmas showed up.” Sprewer said.
The state of Wisconsin officially pardoned Sprewer in November 2019 after he showed the board his impact on the community.
“I just kept my nose clean, just did the right thing and refocused my attention back to God,” Sprewer said. “You have a choice to either make the wrong or right decisions. But I am here to be hope to encourage people just make the right decision.”
Years ago when a pardon wasn’t an option, Rev. John W. McVicker Sr. took a chance on Sprewer, giving him a job at Christ the King Baptist Church’s school. That helped open doors for Sprewer to become a minister and continue helping people through community organizations.