Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt on Thursday commuted the death sentence of Julius Jones, a death row inmate, just hours before he was scheduled to die. The Republican governor intervened less than four hours before the 41-year-old Jones was scheduled to be executed by lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. “After prayerful consideration and reviewing materials presented by all sides of this case, I have determined to commute Julius Jones’ sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole,” the governor said in a statement. Stitt issued an executive order (pdf) doing so, on the condition that Jones shall never again be eligible to apply for commutation, pardon, or parole. A crowd of Jones’ supporters broke out into loud applause and cheers at the Oklahoma Capitol when the decision was announced just after noon. Meanwhile, more than 100 supporters who had gathered outside the prison in McAlester erupted in cheers. Jones was sentenced …