James has been fighting for justice for over twenty three years. Read the following documents, and if you would like sign the following petition to support James's request to have his sentence reduced to one less severe. Ohio has since made changes but we still have so many in prison serving much harsher sentences than others. Especially ones who were merely adults as James had just turned 19 at the time. Not only was the sentence too harsh, but he should not have been charged with an aggravated circumstance. There are so many factors as to why his sentence should be commuted. First, actual innocence, if DNA would have been tested on the murder weapon the courts would have proven he wasn’t the murderer but a co conspirator of the crime and if he had effective counsel they would have made sure that was done and would his counsel have made actual strides at representing him a cross examination of his accusers. They zeroed in on him and disregarded the facts that could’ve been proven if DNA would have been tested. There are other factors as well. Secondly his age should have mattered! 19 yrs old sentenced to life with no parole is unreasonable. The age alone should have made a difference. Thirdly his childhood trauma and juvenile records were used in court and in an article they mention “Several juvenile convictions convinced the jury there wasn’t much chance Schaar could be reformed one juror said,” Fourth, James has came a long way in rehabilitation, in those 23yrs little to almost no troubles while incarcerated. He has sustained some type of studies as well as work during his time. He rarely leaves free time for himself. He currently works and has completed GED, Victim Awareness, Anger Management, Turning Point, Rich Project, Toastmasters, Serve Safe, Mental Health Aide, Roots of Success, Youth For the Nations, Executive Board of NAACP and Toastmasters for 9years, Associates Degree in Business Entrepreneurship, Biohazard Cleanup, OPI Trades Printing Press, Sewing, and more, 8 certifications from community college, currently enrolled in classes for bachelors degree, Rangewalkers (in process of certification) and has even secured employment if ever released. Fifth, he was not given his second appeal because counsel did not give him his transcripts he fought for 8 years trying to obtain them, only to be given a couple dozen pages and to this day has not received them. No discovery no transcripts. He has established a home life and safety plan because losing hope for his release is not an option for us. The courts did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt his guilt. Instead a young man accused of murderer was given the most time possible, lost and forgotten in the prison system with no chance at proving himself. He has maintained his role in this crime, has accepted his guilt for it, and understands that a crime was indeed committed but not by the hands of James. He’s never said he didn’t deserve a lengthy sentence for his role, but it’s the position of the court to correctly define that crime and punish accordingly. That’s all we are seeking is for his clemency to be granted based on the fact he now has served a tremendous amount of time and has done a full life sentence at this point. Let’s recognize the fact he has reformed and paid his price in time that he will never get back. He has served such a lengthy sentence already and this punishment does not fit his crime. Comparatively to same crimes committed by others who were given far less time or given a chance at parole. This commutation is his only chance at at freedom and we hope the support of his community will matter enough to make this happen. He is a good man who deserves a chance at coming home.