An Arkansas man convicted of a Jackson County murder in 2004 who had his sentence commuted in 2020 by then-Gov. Kate Brown was arrested Friday and is headed back to prison following Gov. Tina Kotek’s Wednesday reversal of her predecessor’s order.

William Ray Miskell, 45, was lodged in the Jackson County Jail Friday, the same day the Oregon Department of Corrections issued a no bail warrant after Kotek revoked Brown’s Nov. 20, 2020, commutation.

At the time the warrant was issued, Miskell was living in a local hotel after serving a 90-day jail sentence for violating his parole by fleeing to Arkansas, according to Kiki Parker-Rose, director of Jackson County Community Justice.

On May 25, 2004, Miskell — who could have faced the death penalty for his crimes — was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the Nov. 29, 2003, murder of Jose Velasco. 

Miskell served 16 years in prison until Brown decided to commute his sentence, citing the fact that he “addressed the issues underlying his conviction, expressed remorse, mentored individuals both inside and outside prison, and extensively volunteered time with church outreach activities.”

Upon his release, Miskell was placed on parole with Jackson County Community Justice, said Parker-Rose. But when Miskell left the state on or near Christmas 2022 without parole officers’ knowledge, Jackson County Community Justice issued a warrant for his arrest. 

Miskell — who listed his address as Fort Smith, Arkansas, when he was arrested by Medford police Friday — was arrested March 1 by the Fort Smith (Arkansas) Police Department on a charge of “Fugitive From Justice,” according to Capt. Phillip Pevehouse of the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office. 

When he was brought to Oregon, Miskell was ordered by the State Parole Board to serve three months in the Jackson County Jail, according to Parker-Rose, despite her agency’s recommendation to send the convicted murder back to prison.

Miskell was released June 27 from the Jackson County Jail, according to Parker-Rose, and was back under the supervision of Jackson County Community Justice, she said. The agency learned Friday that Kotek had revoked Miskell’s commutation.

“There was not an additional violation. This was all stemming from absconding to Arkansas and staying there,” Parker-Rose said. “This (revocation) is all the result of that behavior, we believe. We have not been told any other reason.”

Kotek’s revocation, provided by the Oregon Department of Corrections Monday, said Miskell had agreed to abide by his post-prison supervision and not violate any laws. 

“I have determined in my sole judgment that … Miskell’s continued release in the community no longer serves the state,” Kotek wrote in her revocation order.

The governor’s office did not immediately respond to request for comment Monday.