Tuesday, Jun. 03, 2008

Willie Mays Aikens to be released from prison this week

Former Seneca High and S.C. State baseball and football standout Willie Mays Aikens will be released from federal prison Wednesday.

“I’m thrilled to death,” Aikens said from the Jesup Federal Correctional Institution Tuesday morning. “I’ve always had hope something would happen with my case.”

The former Kansas City Royals slugger who made history in 1980 by becoming the first player to ever have more than one home run in two games during the same World Series will be transferred to a halfway house in Kansas City on Wednesday.

After spending 90-120 days at that facility, he will be fully released. Upon that date, Aikens said he planned to return to Seneca to visit family and friends.

In 1994, Aikens was sentence to 20 years, eight months for multiple crack, bribery and gun charges. Mandatory sentencing guidelines at that time dictated he serve at least 18 years of the sentence before being considered for parole. Late last year, the guidelines were reviewed and deemed cruel and unusual. In March, Congress approved new guidelines and made them retroactive, allowing as many as 20,000 cases – including Aikens’ – to be reviewed.

Last month, federal defender Laine Cardarella presented Aikens’ case before a judge and prosecutor in the 8th District Court in Kansas City and all agreed to end Aikens’ sentence with time served.

“And it’s here,” Aikens said. “A lot of people here at the prison are excited for me. A lot of them found out recently I was a professional ball player. It’s exciting to see other people get excited for me. I’m very grateful and thrilled to death.”

Reach Obley at (803) 771-8473 or pobley@thestate.com

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