Clemency board halts Styles commutation hearing after petitioner says he has not exhausted appeals

The Washington State Clemency and Pardons Board recessed and did not hear petitioner Trey Styles' commutation request after determining he had not met the board's threshold requirement to have exhausted available legal remedies.

Chair Raymond Delas Reyes told Styles that because he had not pursued all legal avenues prior to filing, the board would not proceed with a clemency hearing and instructed him to exhaust those remedies and, if unsuccessful, resubmit his petition with documentation. "Your response that you have not means that you've not met the threshold requirements for you having a clemency hearing this afternoon," the chair said.

Styles, who identified himself on the record as Trey Styles (born Raymond William Lytle Jr.), had read a statement expressing remorse and described significant health issues, including what he called stage‑4 cancer. He told the board he had received prosecution materials that morning and wished to proceed. Board members asked whether he had exhausted appeals; Styles answered that he had not. The chair then recessed briefly to consult counsel and returned to say the board would not continue the testimonial portion of the hearing.

The board advised Styles to pursue the remaining legal remedies available to him and to resubmit a petition that documents those attempts if relief is not obtained outside the clemency process. The chair reminded Styles that any recommendation the board might make would remain advisory and the governor retains ultimate authority to grant or deny relief.