Charles "Sonny" Burton faces an execution on March 12, 2026 in Alabama even though he did not kill anyone, and the State does not dispute that fact.

Join the Virtual Sit In

Call Gov. Ivey at 334-242-7100 with the following message:

"Hi. My name is [your name]. I am calling on Gov. Ivey to grant mercy to Sonny Burton who is set to be executed on March 12, 2026. Not only does the State of Alabama admit that he was not the killer and receive a grossly disproportionate sentence compared to the actual killer, but Sonny's health is deteriorating rapidly. Crippling Rheumatoid Arthritis leaves him reliant on a wheelchair and a high fall risk. He even wears a helmet to protect his head during falls. Killing Sonny will not serve the people of Alabama. Please commute his sentence."

REGISTER FOR THE VIRTUAL VIGIL BEGINNING AT 5PM CT ON MARCH 12.

From https://www.charlessonnyburton.com/:

Charles “Sonny” Burton has spent more than 30 years on Alabama’s death row for a killing the State agrees he neither committed nor ordered. While he wasn’t even in the building when the shooting occurred, both Sonny and the shooter Derrick DeBruce were sentenced to death. On appeal, the State agreed to reduce DeBruce’s sentence to life without parole. While acknowledging that Sonny’s sentence is “arguably unjust,” the State inexplicably upheld Sonny’s death sentence.

"Arguably unjust" does not begin to cover it. Sonny's conviction for capital murder rests on the flimsiest of testimony necessary to satisfy the intent requirement. This came from one witness—a teenage co-defendant testifying only to save himself from the death penalty. Guilty of non-capital murder, Sonny never should have faced the death penalty either. What happened after that can only be described as a cascade of injustice. Over the years, the errors in this case have evaded correction through the normal judicial process. Commutation is Sonny's last hope.

Today, Sonny's health is rapidly deteriorating. He is considered a "fall risk" in prison and uses a wheelchair to get around because of severe physical pain. He lives each day uncertain when his execution date might be set. We are asking only that he receive the same sentence Derrick DeBruce ultimately received: Life Without the Possibility of Parole.

Twenty-seven states allow executions of "non-triggermen" – people who participate in a felony that led to someone's death, even if they didn't carry out the killing themselves. Alabama is one of those states, and Charles "Sonny" Burton is one of those men sentenced to die.

Charles Burton never killed anyone. He never arranged for anyone to die, a fact acknowledged by the state. The identity of the triggerman, Derrick DeBruce, was never in dispute and DeBruce, initially sentenced to death, had his sentence commuted to life without parole, while Mr. Burton remains on death row for more than 30 years.

Mr. Burton's case can only be described as a series of legal injustices by his former counsel, including a lack of presentation of mitigating evidence to the court and undue pressure on witnesses to change their testimony.

Mr. Burton has no further appellate process available to him, and is subject to receive an execution date at any time. Your signature to this petition is not a vote for his innocence. It is a vote for justice, and one that will hopefully compel the state of Alabama and Gov. Ivey to grant Sonny clemency, allowing him to live. We are asking for Life Without the Possibility of Parole, rather than death for Mr. DeBruce's crime.

Additional Information and Action Opportunities Regarding Alabama Executions

• Click here for information about Gas Suffocation Executions
  
• Click here for The Pull Back The Curtains Campaign to Demand Full Transparency in Alabama Executions