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Petition for Robert Wideman     Dear Governor Rendell, Lt. Governor Scarnati, and Attorney General Corbett:

This online petition is being submitted to you in support of mercy and requesting  immediate Parole for Robert Wideman, AP 3468, SCI Pittsburgh.  Mr. Wideman has killed NO ONE, yet is still in prison, after 33 years.  Even Judge James McGregor apologized to Mr. Wideman in open court for his being in prison so long because of a Wrongful Conviction.  Allegheny County Coroner, and reknowned Forensics Examiner, Cyril Wrecht also testified (in 1998-Evidentary Hearing) that if the true facts of this case had been known at the time of Robert Wideman's sentencing, he would have testified very differently, alerting the jury that Mr. Wideman's actions WERE NOT the 'direct and substantial' cause of death of Nicky Morena on that cold November night in 1975.

Mr. Wideman is a changed man, indeed a reformed man who deserves to be released.  No other State in the Union or in any civilized country would have kept Robert Wideman in prison this long; and for simply being present during the commision of a crime (did not shoot anyone, just simply present).

Robert Wideman's accomplishments since being incarcerated have been numerous.  Besides being the co-author of Brothers & Keepers (written with his brother, author John Edgar Wideman), Mr. Wideman has also been a Keynote Speaker, along with then Pennsylvania Prison Commisoner David Owens and John Edgar Wideman, at the Prison Lifer's Society Conference at LaSalle University (and he attended without restraints); Robert was also the leader, along with Pittsburgh Police Officer Tom Harris and former Warden and State Deputy Commissioner Willam Stickman, of a Troubled Youths Program in which Mr. Wideman would speak to and dissuade troubled youth from a life of crime (applauded by the Pittsburgh Press); he has obtained an Associates Degree from Allegheny Community College in Structural & Mechanical Drafting; a Diploma from Garfield Business Institute in Computer & Communications for Small Business, appeared in a Television Commercial for former Pennsylvania Governor Thorburg, and has also appeared in several Media outlets including Time Magazine, People Magazine, 60 Minutes, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Boston Globe, and more.

Enough is Enough!!

The Commutations process is supposed to be for people who have demonstrably reformed themselves.  And Robert Wideman has certainly done that.

Please have compassion and release Robert Wideman as he is a better asset to society as a free man, not an imprisoned one!!

Thank you,

Friends of  Robert Wideman, AP 3468, SCI Pittsburgh