Alabama governor commutes death sentence of inmate whose accomplice fired fatal shot

Associated Press (AP)EN 4 min read 100% complete by By KIM CHANDLERMarch 10, 2026 at 05:23 PM

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Alabama Governor Kay Ivey commuted the death sentence of Charles "Sonny" Burton, a 75-year-old inmate, to life in prison without parole on Tuesday. Burton was scheduled to be executed on Thursday for the 1991 shooting death of Doug Battle during a store robbery in Talladega. Although Burton was involved in the robbery, he had left the building before Battle was killed by Derrick DeBruce. DeBruce's death sentence was later reduced to life in prison. Ivey stated that executing Burton while the shooter received a lesser sentence would be unjust, citing the need for fairness and proportionality in administering the death penalty. This marks only the second time Governor Ivey has granted clemency to a death row inmate since 2017.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Atmore, Alabama 30% Holman Correctional Facility 35% Montgomery, Alabama 40% Alabama Governor’s Mansion 50% Doug Battle ×260% Derrick DeBruce ×270% Alabama ×480% Sonny Burton ×785% Kay Ivey ×590%

Keywords

death sentence 100% commuted sentence 90% clemency 80% sonny burton 80% kay ivey 70% accomplice liability 60% life in prison 60% derrick debruce 50% execution 50% alabama 40%

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death sentence commuted sentence clemency sonny burton kay ivey accomplice liability life in prison derrick debruce execution alabama

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