Bush pardons 14 individuals

WASHINGTON -- President Bush has granted pardons to 14 individuals, including men from Missouri and Illinois, and commuted the prison sentences of two others convicted of misdeeds including drug offenses, tax evasion, wildlife violations and bank embezzlement.

The new round of White House pardons announced Monday are Bush's first since March and come less than two months before he will end his presidency. The crimes committed by those on the list also include offenses involving hazardous waste, food stamps, and the theft of government property.

He has granted a total of 171 pardons and eight commutations.

One Missouri and one Illinois man were on the pardon list:

• Leslie Owen Collier of Charleston, Mo., who pleaded guilty in 1995 to unlawfully killing three bald eagles in southeast Missouri. He improperly used pesticide in hamburger meat to kill coyotes, but ended up killing many other animals, including the bald eagles. Collier, who was convicted for unauthorized use of a pesticide and violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, was sentenced Feb. 2, 1996, in the Eastern District of Missouri.
• Richard Micheal Culpepper of Mahomet, Ill., who was convicted of making false statements to the federal government.

Also pardoned were Milton Kirk Cordes of Rapid City, S.D., Brenda Jean Dolenz-Helmer of Fort Worth, Texas, Andrew Foster Harley of Falls Church, Va., Obie Gene Helton of Rossville, Ga., Carey C. Hice Sr. of Travelers Rest, S.C., Geneva Yvonne Hogg of Jacksonville, Fla., William Hoyle McCright Jr. of Midland, Texas, Paul Julian McCurdy of Sulphur, Okla., Robert Earl Mohon Jr. of Grant, Ala., Ronald Alan Mohrhoff of Los Angeles, Daniel Figh Pue III of Conroe, Texas, and Orion Lynn Vick of White Hall, Ark.

Bush also commuted the prison sentences of John Edward Forte of North Brunswick, N.J., and James Russell Harris of Detroit. Both were convicted of cocaine offenses.