When legendary Doors singer Jim Morrison died in 1971, he was in the process of appealing an indecency charge in connection with an incident that took place at a Miami concert in 1969. Now, almost 40 years after his death, Morrison may finally be pardoned for the charge.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is leaving office in January and reportedly plans to exonerate Morrison before then. As CBC reports, he said, "It is very important to prosecute the guilty, but it is more important to exonerate the innocent, and I can't help to have that over and over in my mind with Jim Morrison. The more I think about it the more I think an injustice was being done."
Morrison was convicted following a concert on March 1, 1969. During the show, the drunken singer reportedly put his hands inside of his pants with him thumb hanging out through the pocket (a gesture that likely looked suggestive to the audience). He also reportedly brought a live lamb on stage and joked about having sex with it, but didn't.
He was ultimately sentenced to six months in prison and a $500 fine. Morrison appealed, but died in 1971, before any decision was made.
This case was first brought to Crist's attention back in 2007, when Ohio TV producer Dave Diamond wrote the governor a letter. At the time, Crist said that he would consider the pardon. Now that his time in office is almost over, his staff is pouring over all information in connection with the incident. The parole commission is conducting an investigation that's set to present its evidence on Thursday (December 9).
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is leaving office in January and reportedly plans to exonerate Morrison before then. As CBC reports, he said, "It is very important to prosecute the guilty, but it is more important to exonerate the innocent, and I can't help to have that over and over in my mind with Jim Morrison. The more I think about it the more I think an injustice was being done."
Morrison was convicted following a concert on March 1, 1969. During the show, the drunken singer reportedly put his hands inside of his pants with him thumb hanging out through the pocket (a gesture that likely looked suggestive to the audience). He also reportedly brought a live lamb on stage and joked about having sex with it, but didn't.
He was ultimately sentenced to six months in prison and a $500 fine. Morrison appealed, but died in 1971, before any decision was made.
This case was first brought to Crist's attention back in 2007, when Ohio TV producer Dave Diamond wrote the governor a letter. At the time, Crist said that he would consider the pardon. Now that his time in office is almost over, his staff is pouring over all information in connection with the incident. The parole commission is conducting an investigation that's set to present its evidence on Thursday (December 9).
