Carl Buske and Atdom Patsalis once faced nearly 300-year sentences in Arizona prisons for their crimes – but their fates are now changing. In 2007, Carl Buske was found in possession of 29 printed images of child pornography, leading to a 290-year sentence. On the other hand, Atdom Patsalis received a 292-year sentence in 2015 for multiple non-violent, non-dangerous theft-related crimes in Mohave County.
While legally convicted, their sentences caught the attention of Judge John Leonardo, who felt burdened by the extreme nature of their punishments. Now, with the assistance of the Arizona Justice Project, Leonardo is working towards a different outcome for Buske, aiming to reduce his sentence to the 17 years already served and amend the law that mandated his initial 290-year sentence.
Similarly, Atdom Patsalis’s case also saw a turn of events. Convicted for a string of burglaries in 2013, Patsalis faced a sentence extending to the year 2300. However, efforts from the Arizona Justice Project resulted in executive clemency being granted by Governor Hobbs in July 2024, offering Patsalis a chance at parole.
Both cases reflect a shift towards redemption and justice, underscoring the importance of hope and second chances. As these individuals await a new beginning outside prison walls, the pursuit of fairness and mercy continues to shape their narratives – proving that no sentence is truly final when there’s room for hope.
