Execution Report: Calvin King

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King had five previous convictions. In April 1978, he was sentenced to 10 days in jail for assault. In April 1982, he received probation for his first theft offense. In August 1982, he received a 6-year sentence for a second theft conviction. He was paroled in June 1984. In August 1986, he received another 2-year sentence for a third theft conviction. He was paroled in April 1987. In May 1989, he received a 25-year sentence for burglary of a habitation. He was paroled after four years, in September 1993. (At the time, early release was common in Texas because of strict prison population caps imposed by U.S. District Judge William Wayne Justice.)

A jury convicted King of capital murder in June 1995 and sentenced him to death. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentence in September 1997. All of his subsequent appeals in state and federal court were denied.

According to one source, Leonard Johnson pleaded guilty to murder and received a life sentence.

King declined requests for interviews from death row. In a brief last statement at his execution, he said, "I want to say God forgives as I forgive and God is the greatest. Thank you." He was pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m.

By David Carson. Posted on 26 September 2002.
Sources: Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas Attorney General's Office, Associated Press.