Clemency board recommends pardon for Commander Carey McCauley, citing long service and rehabilitation

The Washington State Clemency and Pardons Board voted unanimously March 13 to recommend a pardon for Commander Carey McCauley for a 1991 vehicular-assault conviction, citing his long public service, sustained rehabilitation and the statutory limits that make a pardon the proper relief for this case.

McCauley told the board he accepted responsibility for the 1991 crash that injured two teenagers: "It's 100% me, my fault," he said on the record. He described entering military service soon after the incident, maintaining a lengthy record of service (he cited about 36 years), attaining a bachelor’s degree and later a master's and holding professional licenses while remaining engaged in community service.

Why it matters: Pierce County Prosecutor Ms. Burbank said the office would not oppose the pardon, noting McCauley has no subsequent convictions, has rehabilitated in the community and that statutory pathways for vacating the conviction or restoring gun rights are limited for this offense. That statutory context, board members said, makes pardon the appropriate discretionary route to address barriers McCauley faces.

Board members considered both the seriousness of the original offense and McCauley’s life since. Members discussed the nature of the victims’ injuries — including a multi-month back brace for one victim and a broken collarbone and facial scarring for another — and asked about efforts to reconcile with victims; McCauley said he has not built a relationship with the injured parties but described ongoing sobriety, engagement in service and outreach.

The motion to recommend pardon was made by Vice Chair Doug Baldwin Jr. and seconded by Board Member Aline Flower; the board voted 5–0 in favor. Chair Raymond Delos Reyes reminded McCauley that the board’s recommendation is advisory and the governor will make the final determination.

Next steps: The board will forward the recommendation to the governor’s office. If the governor grants a pardon, statutory and administrative consequences (such as record implications and gun-rights restoration) will follow the governor’s action and applicable law.