Man spends 18 yrs in prison for crime he didn't commit

Unfortunately, this happens all the time. Thankfully, he will be able to sue the state/justice system/county, etc. It will be interesting to see the outcome. It doesn't say any evidence was found to find him innocent (i.e. DNA). It is overturned because witnesses have recanted their statements and now refuse to re-testify. I did like this little diddy: "The 40-year-old remains behind bars for now because of an unrelated federal drug-sale conviction that carried a 27-month sentence." Doesn't seem like he is the choir boy his family and lawyers are making him out to be. However, that doesn't mean he actually committed murder either!

Carrie
 
Sounds like there is probably a lot more to the story. The guy is a former drug dealer. Who knows what motivation the witness was given to recant. ;) Doesn't sound like this story is over yet though.
 
carres1973 said:
"The 40-year-old remains behind bars for now because of an unrelated federal drug-sale conviction that carried a 27-month sentence." Doesn't seem like he is the choir boy his family and lawyers are making him out to be. However, that doesn't mean he actually committed murder either!

Carrie
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LMAO!! Yeah, and I always take everything I read at the Huffington Post with a grain of salt, especially since they have a liberal bias and tend to be soft on crime.
 
dreamyjeanie said:
This is happening more often, usually thanks to DNA. Here's an article from last year on how many had been found innocent just in Dallas County.

http://www.innocenceproject.org/Content/1310.php
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I think organizations like The Innocence Project do good work in proving innocence with technology like DNA. I am so glad this technology exists to ensure those who are in prison belong...and helps put away those that do belong in prison!

I am far more skeptical of criminals being freed because a witness recanted.

Carrie
 
This story is also in today's NY Daily News so it is not just huffingtonpost. Yes and I agree this happens more often then anyone really knows. I often think the court system is not about justice but about "winning".
 
There is a book out now written by a woman and the man that she wrongfully accused of raping her. I forgot how long he was in jail before they finally got the evidence they needed to exonerate him. They are friends now, and she feels horrible because of her mistake, and he has completely forgiven her. Sorry, can't remember the title now, but I saw them both on 60 Minutes and it was pretty emotional. ETA: Here it is - http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/06/60minutes/main4848039.shtml

I'm always a little dismayed when people go on about how much money it costs to keep someone in prison instead of executing them, but there doesn't seem to be the same outcry for wasting taxpayers' money by incarcerating an innocent person for years.
 
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TeTe said:
There is a book out now written by a woman and the man that she wrongfully accused of raping her. I forgot how long he was in jail before they finally got the evidence they needed to exonerate him. They are friends now, and she feels horrible because of her mistake, and he has completely forgiven her. Sorry, can't remember the title now, but I saw them both on 60 Minutes and it was pretty emotional. ETA: Here it is - http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/06/60minutes/main4848039.shtml

I'm always a little dismayed when people go on about how much money it costs to keep someone in prison instead of executing them, but there doesn't seem to be the same outcry for wasting taxpayers money by incarcerating an innocent person for years.
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TeTe...what a WONDERFUL post. And an equally wonderful quote. Thanks for taking us into the weekend this way!

:) Elizabeth
 
TeTe said:
There is a book out now written by a woman and the man that she wrongfully accused of raping her. I forgot how long he was in jail before they finally got the evidence they needed to exonerate him. They are friends now, and she feels horrible because of her mistake, and he has completely forgiven her. Sorry, can't remember the title now, but I saw them both on 60 Minutes and it was pretty emotional. ETA: Here it is - http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/06/60minutes/main4848039.shtml

I'm always a little dismayed when people go on about how much money it costs to keep someone in prison instead of executing them, but there doesn't seem to be the same outcry for wasting taxpayers' money by incarcerating an innocent person for years.
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I can't imagine that she did it on purpose. That is the biggest problem with eye witness testimony. Recollections fade, can be swayed (unintentionally), etc.

Unfortunately, the people wrongly accused can never get those years back. However, what is the option? Never send someone to prison unless there is DNA evidence? So rapists would just have to use condoms. It is a difficult thing, for sure but mistakes do happen in all aspects of life. Look at how many medical mistakes are made every year. Mistakes are made in every facet of life. Unfortunately, it is impossible to control and sometimes results in lives lost (i.e. friendly fire accidents).

Carrie
 
I am just curious how the Huffington post and it's liberal bias, being soft on crime, persuaded a Manhattan judge to make this decision???

Stumped by that??

And why aren't we grieving for a man who lost 18 years of his life unfairly?? Does a drug conviction make you an automatic life time offender with the propensity to kill???

Stumped by that too???
 
elliemom said:
I am just curious how the Huffington post and it's liberal bias, being soft on crime, persuaded a Manhattan judge to make this decision???

Stumped by that??

And why aren't we grieving for a man who lost 18 years of his life unfairly?? Does a drug conviction make you an automatic life time offender with the propensity to kill???

Stumped by that too???
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I am not discounting this man's suffering for the past 18 years - AT ALL! I am just saying there is more to the story than what was listed in the article. He isn't sweet and innocent as the article suggests. He obvioulsy wasn't just trying to sell a bag of weed to get 27 months on a federal charge! Maybe I am just skeptical in general. I gave up believing stories on face value after being let down by scoundrels (in real life and in print) too many times. What does that say about me? Too cynical, I guess.

Carrie
 
elliemom said:
I am just curious how the Huffington post and it's liberal bias, being soft on crime, persuaded a Manhattan judge to make this decision???

Stumped by that??

And why aren't we grieving for a man who lost 18 years of his life unfairly?? Does a drug conviction make you an automatic life time offender with the propensity to kill???

Stumped by that too???
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carres1973 said:
I am not discounting this man's suffering for the past 18 years - AT ALL! I am just saying there is more to the story than what was listed in the article. He isn't sweet and innocent as the article suggests. He obvioulsy wasn't just trying to sell a bag of weed to get 27 months on a federal charge! Maybe I am just skeptical in general. I gave up believing stories on face value after being let down by scoundrels (in real life and in print) too many times. What does that say about me? Too cynical, I guess.

Carrie
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Pretty much ditto what Carrie said... except that I don't believe I am cynical, or that Carrie is either. I would say that I am cautiously skeptical, an outlook that has served me well. I didn't mean to offend anyone, just expressing my opinion. And of course I would hate to see an innocent spend even 1 day in jail, I'm just not sure after reading this particular article that we have the WHOLE story.
 
elliemom said:
Does a drug conviction make you an automatic life time offender with the propensity to kill???
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No but I sleep better at night knowing that people who sell drugs are behind bars away from my children.

I just would have to agree with Carrie and Miss Lee.

I also think that the media tries to jump on the band wagon of the system is flawed. Yes mistakes happen and no one is perfect but I think for the most part it works. For the most part the wrong guy goes to prison for doing the wrong thin. People who break the law should be punished. The last time I checked selling drugs was against the law. Now before anyone jumps down my back and tells me that spending 18 years in prison is to much punishment for selling drugs, . . . I would have to say how many people have died from the drugs that he sold? How many kids have had to see their parents high off of the drugs that they bought from him and have had to starve because parents used money for drugs and not for food?

just my opinion
 
janie1234 said:
Yes mistakes happen and no one is perfect but I think for the most part it works. For the most part the wrong guy goes to prison for doing the wrong thin. People who break the law should be punished. The last time I checked selling drugs was against the law. Now before anyone jumps down my back and tells me that spending 18 years in prison is to much punishment for selling drugs, . . . I would have to say how many people have died from the drugs that he sold? How many kids have had to see their parents high off of the drugs that they bought from him and have had to starve because parents used money for drugs and not for food?

just my opinion
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You made some excellent points and ITA!!!
 
Janie and Michele, surely you aren't saying that all crimes should have the same punishment, regardless of their severity?
 
pixiesis said:
Janie and Michele, surely you aren't saying that all crimes should have the same punishment, regardless of their severity?
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No, I don't think they were saying that at all. Just that they would have more sympathy for an honest law abiding citizen who was wrongfully incarcerated rather than a drug overlord with a federal rap sheet (Disclaimer - please note the tinge of sarcasm here and don't feel the need to debate the drug overlord part). ;) However, if that witness really was lying and just isn't recanting now because he didn't feel like going through another trial or is being pressured to change his story, than of course it is a shame that the man was wrongfully accused of something he didn't do and put away for 18 years because of it. I just wouldn't be surprised if there isn't more to the story than we'll ever know. The prosecution obviously still believes they have a case, so I don't think this is quite over yet.
 
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How many people are in jail in this country? We have the most people incarcerated in the world. We have more people in jail than China and Russia. Doesn't seem to be working too well. I don't know what drugs he sold but I guess he was about 22 years old at the time and he was convicted of a murder it seems he didn't commit. So whether or not he sold drugs--he received a 27 month sentence--to spend 18 years in jail is horrible.
 
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