Petitioner Jeffrey Reinhardt describes remorse, steady employment and family support

Jeffrey Reinhardt told the Washington State Clemency and Pardons Board he is "extremely remorseful" for the harm he caused and described years of employment, family contact and community involvement since his 2011 conviction.

"I'm here to ask for grace and forgiveness through pardon in this conviction," Reinhardt said after spelling his name for the record. He told the board that since his release he has paid restitution, held steady work in turfgrass science, earned a master's degree, and worked at Washington State University and later as a lecturer at the University of Maryland.

His wife, Christie Reinhardt, spoke as a witness and described his faith-driven volunteerism, mentorship of students and leadership of a turfgrass program that she said has produced national-level student placements. "Sincerely, Jeff is the best husband anyone could ask for," Christie Reinhardt said in support of the petition.

The board examined the petitioner's family contact, whether victims had been notified of the hearing and asked clarifying questions about entries in his petition (including one crossed-out line regarding prior violent incidents, which Reinhardt said was a typographical error). Those procedural and evidentiary items prompted the board to seek a formal victim-notification letter from the prosecutor's office before deliberation.