A local soldier was not included on President Bush's latest list of Pardons.

Before leaving for the holidays Monday, President Bush commuted one prison sentence and granted 19 pardons. However, Sgt. Evan Vela, of St. Anthony, was not among them.

Vela's father, Curtis Carnahan, had been leading the efforts to try to get his son pardoned. Sgt. Vela was convicted February of shooting an unarmed Iraqi man. The incident happened May 11, 2007. In court he said his staff sergeant ordered him to shoot. He did. Vela said his superior placed an AK-47 next to the victim's body. He maintained his innocence by saying he was only following orders. Vela was convicted to a 10-year sentence.

Both Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson said they sent separate letters to President Bush, citing their support for the action before Bush leaves office in January. They both stand by Vela saying he was following an order from his superior.

Local News 8 spoke to the Vela's family. They said they have high hopes that Bush will pardon Vela before he leaves office in January.

Included on the pardon latest list is Charles Winters, who died in the 1980s in Florida. Winters helped ship arms and aircraft to Jews trying to found their own state in the Middle East. He was convicted of violating the Neutrality Act and served 18 months in prison. Two others, Herman Greenspun and Al Schwimmer, also were convicted but did not serve time. They were later granted presidential pardons.

With this latest batch, Bush has granted a total of 191 pardons and nine commutations. That's fewer than half as many as Presidents Clinton or Reagan issued during their two terms.