Alabama governor commutes death sentence of inmate scheduled for execution this week

Gov. Kay Ivey commuted 75-year-old Charles Lee “Sonny” Burton’s death sentence to life without parole two days before his scheduled execution, saying Burton did not shoot the victim and had left the store; next legal steps are undetermined at this time.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey commuted the death sentence of 75-year-old Charles Lee “Sonny” Burton on March 10, two days before a scheduled execution. Burton had been convicted in connection with a 1991 AutoZone robbery in Talladega in which a customer was killed. Ivey said Burton did not shoot the victim and had left the store before the shooting, and she described carrying out the execution under those circumstances as unjust. Key facts: - Burton’s sentence was commuted to life in prison without the possibility of parole. - He had been scheduled for execution on March 12, 2026. - Officials and Ivey said Burton did not fire the shot and had already left the store; another man involved in the robbery received a life sentence. - The Alabama Attorney General’s Office had urged that the execution proceed and described Burton as the ringleader. Summary: The commutation halts an imminent execution and leaves Burton serving life without parole. Undetermined at this time.