Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe to pardon son's 2003 felony marijuana conviction

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe says he plans to pardon his son's 2003 marijuana-related felony before the end of his second and final term.

When Kyle Beebe was 23, he was arrested and and convicted of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. He served three years probation.

"At the time of my arrest I was living in a fantasy world, not reality. I was young and dumb," wrote Beebe in his pardon application.

The Arkansas Parole Board determined Beebe's request was "with merit," and formally recommended his father issue a pardon.

"At that time in my life I felt like I was missing something and I tried to fill that emptiness by selling drugs ... I am asking for a second chance to be a better son to my parents and prove to them that I am the person they raised me to be."

"Kids when they're young do stupid stuff," Gov. Beebe recalled to KATV.

"He was no different. Liked to have broken his mother's heart. His mother and I were stereotypical parents from the different end of the spectrum. She was the enabler that tried to fix everything. I was the nuclear bomb thrower that thought you ought to shoot him. Somewhere between those two extremes was probably the right thing to do."

Gov. Beebe said his son is a much different person now, and the only reason the pardon has not already been issued is the younger Beebe never asked.

"I would have done it a long time ago if he'd have asked, but he took his sweet time ... He was embarrassed. He's still embarrassed, and frankly, I was embarrassed and his mother was embarrassed."

Beebe, who has reached his two-term limit in the statehouse, will be succeeded by former head of the DEA Asa Hutchinson.