Charles Grodin on 'Huckabee'

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-- couldn't have fought in the.

He's also hosted his own radio and television talk shows.

But he now concentrating his efforts on helping people that he -- have been overcharged -- the criminal justice system.

People like Ryan Holley who in 2004.

Was convicted of first degree murder for murder that took place during a house burglary in Pensacola Florida.

Holly didn't kill the victim he wasn't even near the crime scene.

He actually was sleeping at home miles away.

But he -- his Carter friends and they used it to drive to the scene of the crime.

Under the felony murder rule -- was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Charles -- joins me now Charles -- ahead here.

Hear.

This news.

-- from.

I have been at the department this is particularly troubling because this young man wasn't even near the scene -- that -- convicted of premeditated.

Murder.

And I he had lent his card who is true this is someone with no record whatsoever -- in the military he writes me from prison.

He's a kind of a yes sir yes ma'am that kind of a kid and he tells me his plans.

What he wants to do when he gets out of prison he may very well not ever get out of prison unless something is done about this.

I hate being an advocate for inmates who I think -- unfairly imprisoned.

I do want to say that I think a lot of people or let out of prison who should never have been let out of prison because of their violent backgrounds.

Because we have release people from prison.

The Cheshire murders and that Connecticut -- a good example a break into the house they killed the mother of the two daughters set the house on far -- -- survived.

There was a case in.

There's no floor -- in Pennsylvania all right called the DA and end and -- -- -- background they broke into a house and killed a sleeping two year old baby boy.

That I want to know their backgrounds and I don't think they should ever have been let out of prison.

It's all the cases I've been involved with have been nonviolent cases but I've never seen a case like this and this is with the -- with a felony murder -- this.

If you're involved in a felony such as robbery.

That leads to a murder.

Then you are as guilty as the person who committed the murder.

And that's the generally what felony murder is and I've been involved in other felony murder cases this is the first time I've ever been involved in -- case.

-- the -- person is convicted of premeditated murder was home asleep in bed and -- told the prosecutor.

Who's now a judge he even he feels it's so strange -- -- with no record.

Of fabulous kid actually.

Is serving life in prison with no chance of for all and he was he was mostly from bad.

I think that's the remarkable thing an -- wanting to be charged as an accessory that would be typically in most of our minds the extent to which one would be charged.

This kid Ryan holly is charges if he pulled both murder ball better that is is really -- how big a problem is this across the country do we -- to.

They have a felony murder -- us started in England and in all parts of your but it was abolished because of unintended consequences.

Like this.

It was abolished in India of the Canadian Supreme Court ruled that a person should be held responsible.

For his or her own actions.

So America.

Is the only country -- retains this a law and Kentucky Michigan and Hawaii.

Have gotten rid of it the 47 of our State's so retain it.

And the the perfect example of the unintended consequences -- this perfectly good kid who's serving life in prison with no chance of pearl who was home to bed is sleazy can the legislature changed this in their -- -- Canon and they should then it measures and then analyze -- Kentucky they did.

Now unfortunately.

-- was in touch with -- with a a justice in one of those states to learn how this happened.

-- -- -- I'm deliberately are mentioning names but.

The answer was money was involved.

In which is even more sickening.

Charles I hope you'll continue the advocacy because this is one of those issues that a lot of people don't talk about.

Because people don't really care -- you oughta care because he could be you could be your son your daughter.

And you know the thought of life without parole.

I -- -- there's some people are prisons that probably show without sleep in bed but there -- some people who are in prison.

That don't need to spend the rest of their lives there are prison director used to tell me all the time and I quoted.

We lock up a lot of people just because we're mad at -- not because we're afraid of them the people locked up -- be the ones were really afraid up.

Charles thanks for being here -- bringing this to our attention --

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Charles Grodin on 'Huckabee'

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