Very sad
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Pardon request denied
By JAMES MacPHERSON Associated Press Writer
The North Dakota Pardon Advisory Board has unanimously denied the request of a Bosnian man set to be deported, citing his violent background and poor behavior in prison.Mevludin Hidanovic wa convicted two years ago of engaging in a riot while armed during a 2006 brawl at the Red River Valley Fairgrounds. He maintained he was innocent.All five members of the pardon board on Tuesday denied his request for a pardon, saying he has earlier misdemeanor convictions involving domestic violence and that he had behavioral problems in prison. They did not release details."(He) will have to abide by the consequences of his criminal activity," said Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, one of five board members.Stenehjem said a pardon "is extraordinary relief that ought to be for people who deserve it. Frankly, I didn't see that in this case."Hidanovic did not appear at the hearing and did not have an attorney there. No one spoke on his behalf, and the board acted quickly with little discussion.Hidanovic could be deported at any time. He has been in the custody of the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency after serving a 1½-year sentence on the state charges. He currently is in a federal prison in Elk River, Minn., said Warren Emmer, the pardon board's clerk.Emmer said Hidanovic, who came to the U.S. in 1999, could be deported to Germany or Bosnia. The board's action means Hidanovic "has no legal remedy to avoid deportation," Emmer said.Hidanovic was accused of using a baseball bat to strike other participants in the June 2006 fairgrounds melee, which authorities said involved as many as 30 people. Hidanovic said he arrived after the brawl was over, and denied he had a bat.The state Supreme Court last year rejected Hidanovic's argument that his conviction was tainted because of racist statements by a juror in his trial and last August, East Central District Judge Wade Webb turned down a request for a new trial.
Pardon request denied
By JAMES MacPHERSON Associated Press Writer
The North Dakota Pardon Advisory Board has unanimously denied the request of a Bosnian man set to be deported, citing his violent background and poor behavior in prison.Mevludin Hidanovic wa convicted two years ago of engaging in a riot while armed during a 2006 brawl at the Red River Valley Fairgrounds. He maintained he was innocent.All five members of the pardon board on Tuesday denied his request for a pardon, saying he has earlier misdemeanor convictions involving domestic violence and that he had behavioral problems in prison. They did not release details."(He) will have to abide by the consequences of his criminal activity," said Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, one of five board members.Stenehjem said a pardon "is extraordinary relief that ought to be for people who deserve it. Frankly, I didn't see that in this case."Hidanovic did not appear at the hearing and did not have an attorney there. No one spoke on his behalf, and the board acted quickly with little discussion.Hidanovic could be deported at any time. He has been in the custody of the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency after serving a 1½-year sentence on the state charges. He currently is in a federal prison in Elk River, Minn., said Warren Emmer, the pardon board's clerk.Emmer said Hidanovic, who came to the U.S. in 1999, could be deported to Germany or Bosnia. The board's action means Hidanovic "has no legal remedy to avoid deportation," Emmer said.Hidanovic was accused of using a baseball bat to strike other participants in the June 2006 fairgrounds melee, which authorities said involved as many as 30 people. Hidanovic said he arrived after the brawl was over, and denied he had a bat.The state Supreme Court last year rejected Hidanovic's argument that his conviction was tainted because of racist statements by a juror in his trial and last August, East Central District Judge Wade Webb turned down a request for a new trial.
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