Lexington rally calls for McNeair's clemency after more than 40 years in prison
A protester holds signs in support of Charles McNeair during a protest in front of the Davidson County Courthouse on W. Center Street Saturday. CHRISTA DUTTON/WFDD
About 40 people gathered in Lexington Saturday seeking clemency for longtime inmate Charles McNeair.
McNeair was just 16 years old when he was accused of committing rape in 1979. McNeair is Black; his accuser was white. Both McNeair and his advocates maintain his innocence, saying there wasn’t strong enough evidence to convict him.
Rev. Alan Suber, a pastor and president of a nonprofit that fights for McNeair’s freedom, says supporters have met with the general counsel for Gov. Roy Cooper’s office to make their case for clemency.
“We believe justice can be served by granting his clemency," he says "It’s 43 years too long. This is a young man who for 43 Christmases, 43 holidays communicated with his family through a prison cell.”
McNeair has just two options to gain his freedom — through the parole board or to be granted clemency by Governor Cooper through the Juvenile Sentence Review Board which was established in 2021.
McNeair is currently serving his sentence in Wilkes Correctional Center.
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