Mayor Bell issues two pardons for misdemeanor crimes

Birmingham mayor William Bell today told the city council he has pardoned two men for misdemeanor crimes they were convicted of committing years ago.

Bell pardoned Guy Mason for violating the city's ban on carrying a concealed weapon without a license and pardoned Sgt. L Lee Pitts for a third degree assault conviction from 1990.

Bell said today he's gotten 10 to 12 pardon requests but only granted these two because the two men made compelling cases.

He called the offenses "youthful indiscretions" and said a close look at the men's lives helped make the decision.

"We evaluated the conditions under which they were convicted under city ordinances, we looked at their history, we received a number of letters of testimony that these people have lead exemplary lives since the time of their conviction, they have not been in any further trouble," Bell said. "And also that there was a need for them to continue to pursue the jobs they were in or pursue new opportunity."

Bell says this was an unusual event and he doesn't have plans to make any more pardons anytime in the near future.

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     Also today, the Birmingham city council approved spending more than $200,000 to repair Boutwell Auditorium's ceiling.

     The main auditorium closed in August when pieces of plaster fell from the ceiling.

     Several city council members today said they want to discuss the auditorium's long-term future before spending much more on its maintenance.

     Mayor Bell says his office is studying the issue and plans to have some options to discuss soon.