Maine Republican Gov. Paul LePage has denied a father of three's request to pardon a drug trafficking conviction that led to his deportation to Haiti.
The Morning Sentinel reports LePage said in a text message Tuesday that 35-year-old Lexius Saint Martin had nearly 10 years to resolve his case. He says Saint Martin "completely ignored our laws until they caught up with him."
Saint Martin was convicted of drug trafficking in 2008, but his deportation was postponed after Haiti suffered a devastating earthquake.
The family's attorney, Evan Fisher, says it was cruel for LePage's administration to send a letter informing Saint Martin that his pardon was denied before Thanksgiving.
He says he will refile a petition for a pardon next year when Democrat Governor-elect Janet Mills takes office.
