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Johnny Williams spent 14 years in prison for an attempted rape he never committed. On Friday, a judge overturned his conviction. And on Tuesday, the 37-year-old Williams spoke publicly for the first time.
"I'm truly happy," Williams said in a one-on-one interview at Santa Clara University. That's where a team of students and lawyers from the Northern California Innocence Project helped prove that the DNA on a 9-year-old's T-shirt did not belong to him. The DNA is what led to his 1998 attempted rape arrest.
"Everything happens for a reason," he said.
This is the second innocent person the Innocence Project has exonerated this year, and its 16th victory since its creation in 2001. The class at Santa Clara University also helped free Ronald Ross, 51, who was convicted in 2006 for an attempted murder and was released at the end of February, when the judge dismissed the case.
Williams, born and raised in Oakland, has a different twist to his story.
He served his entire 14 years and was released from prison in January. So, when Alameda County Superior Court Judge Larry Goodman wiped his record clean, he had already served out his whole punishment -- the last stretch at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego -- one that began when he was 23 years old.
Before this, he had no criminal record.
But Williams on Tuesday did say that his life had been heading in the wrong direction before his arrest. He said he never graduated high school and never finished college. Being behind bars for most of his adult life made him realize he now has a second chance.
"I want to learn from my past experiences," Williams said, not wanting to elaborate on his past life in Oakland. "I'm just happy to be back on the streets. I'm trying my best to get a job and go to school."
As for the Oakland police who arrested him, Williams only had this to say: "We all make mistakes."
On Sept, 28, 1998, a man who called himself "Johnny" sexually accosted a 9-year-old girl as she walked home from school. The next day, while walking in the same area, the same man attempted to rape her. Williams was a former neighbor of the girl and familiar with her family. When the girl first reported the assault she did not say she knew the attacker, which suggested a stranger.
However, people who knew the girl suggested to police that "Johnny" may be Williams, according to Santa Clara University's Innocence Project. One week after the attack, Oakland police collected the clothes the girl was wearing during the assault. Forensic tests at the time of trial were unable to confirm biological evidence and no DNA testing was performed. On June 8, 2000, Williams was convicted of two counts of forcible lewd conduct against a child and one count of attempted rape.
Williams wrote the Innocence Project a letter, and the students took up his case along with their sister organization, the California DNA Project. Working with the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, the T-shirt was retested and Williams' DNA was excluded.
The Innocence Project's supervising attorney Maitreya Badami said years were taken off Williams' life, but he is eligible for a significant sum of money. All eligible, exonerated prisoners can earn up to $100 a day for every day they wrongly spent in prison. Badami said that could be about $500,000, and even though it may take a long time to get it, Williams is definitely a candidate for that money.
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He lives in a bad area he's what he needs to do. He's going receive a several million dollar settlement. Move out of the area he's in, and go somewhere else buy a home (cash) buy a car (cash) (nothing fancy) invest 75% of the remaining, spend the other 25% and get yourself a job.
The amount of money he will eventually end up getting is a big question. If there was any kind of misconduct or evidence suppression he would have a chance a getting the millions you talk about. However, that does not sound like it is the case here. He may be faced with taking the $100/day, or around $500,000 that is the standard under current law and get the money relatively quickly, or file suit to try and get more which would mean he would likely not see anything for several years. I do not think that $500,000 is adequate compensation for 14 years of a person's life, but trying to get more will take a lot of time and there is no guarantee. The huge awards from juries that you hear about in the news rarely end up being paid. The amounts are invariably appealed and they end up settling for considerably less or have the amount reduced by the appeals court judges. In the end it will come down to two factors. First, did the prosecutor or the police intentionally do anything wrong or fail to pursue evidence that led to his wrongful conviction and second, how long is he willing to wait to get some compensation.
He should get the $500K immediately and then still have the option of suing for more later if he can prove misconduct by authorities.
Our prisons are full of innocent men .... Where did the historic maxim ( over 2000 years old) go that was so fervently taught to American children in our educational systems & churches and imbued in our legal fabric for the past 200 years ...... Was it just a scam to delude us in believing in our justice system?
"It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer"
"Farewell to .. The Rights of Man"
Instead of an apology, they respond with "We all make mistakes." PATHETIC, and $500,000 is nowhere near enough for 14 years spent in prison.
Where are all the people who typically scream about killing or torturing criminals?
Kevin,
Williams responded with "we all make mistakes.
This is why I oppose the death penalty. Our judicial system makes a lot of mistakes. It's awful when it happens but in cases like this you can at least release the innocent person and give a settlement that gives them a chance to rebuild his life.
If you execute a prisoner what do you do if you later find out he's innocent? Send the family a postcard saying, "oops?"
Think of all those poor innocent people who have been executed. Sad, sad, sad.
Anyone who thinks impartial juries or fair trials are the norm needs to get a reality check.
Getting accused wrongfully and having to prove one's innocence is the type of reality check that always works.
Once your name is in the system, you lose all credibility and people (even family members) make the horrid mistake of assuming that a person would not have been arrested if he were not guilty.
Sad that this man lost the prime of his life, but he did say that it put him on a better course--at a price.
If the DA's were charged with unlawful imprisonment and jailed for false convictions we would only have people being convicted for crimes that were proven beyond any doubt.
The US is continually becoming a police state. To the point that the old saying, 'You can have all the justice your money will buy' becomes relevant.
Some police departments are under great pressure to "solve" all crimes. This can result in false accusations, forced confessions, falsified evidence, lying witnesses, especially forensics "experts", just to get the cases closed. There are assumed to be millions of Americans in prison for crimes they did not commit. Conversely, there are millions of criminals on the streets while someone else is serving the prison sentences instead of them.
Junicon, I agree with your thinking on the death penalty, to a point.
Instead of abolishing it entirely, I would prefer to see the burden of proof for a death sentence so high that in most criminal cases the prosecutors would not seek it.
For example, in the case against Timothy McVeigh would have required overwhelming evidence and the crime would have had to be so egregious that the death penalty would be a possibility.
Why get a job?
If he has that much coming to him there is no reason for him to get a job.
He should take the time to write a small memoir of his ordeal and then sell it too CBS and Hollywood so that his betrayal can be seen by millions.
$100 a day for every day they wrongly spent in prison. Badami said that could be about $500,000, and even though it may take a long time to get it, Williams is definitely a candidate for that money.
I am curious where the money comes from? Taxpayers, or the pensions of all those involved of the wrongful conviction?
It amazes me that those involved in wrongful convictions never pay any price at all. Their lives go on. Examples should be made of them just as they do innocent citizens. In the case of citizens it is used as a deterrent. Shouldn't this be the same for over zealous DA's, and all involved to keep this from happening over and over?
It should come from the lawyers who tried and convicted him.
I thank God for these people that got him cleared of this. You can bet that there was some funny business going on here. But its the system more then anything. This man seems humbled by this and bears no malice, so we should all take this what he said and let it go. Maybe this was God's way of saving his life. He seems to feel that way. Gods Speed man, Make the best of the rest of your life.
A comment made regarding the payment of the $500,000 stated it not be paid until after a lengthy period of time. WHY?
We, on the RIght believe that this man should be prosecuted for defrauding the taxpayers for the cost of maintaining him on the government's nickel for all that time. It's riff rafff like this that arrange these false convictions just to get 3 hots and a cot.
there is a bunch of them in the Whitehouse!!!
sending soldiers to fight for something that is a total lie.
Thank God, Jesus Christ, is coming back to this world to straighten things out.
this is our only hope
I can't believe the cops said "We all make mistakes"...REALLY? this guy spent 14 years in a cage. I oppose the death penalty too. Wondering how many innocent victims the States have KILLED. Very sad.
Nah, the people that made sure this guy got convicted walk the planet without any problems.
But for some strange reason, every one and their grandmother want Lance Armstrong to pay retroactively, and everyday forward for what he's done.
Makes sense to me. This country is dissapointing. And when i say that, i mean the people in it.
Why the hell did it even take 14 years to clear this man. On the Maury show and other trash tv shows, they can get the DNA results back within a day or two.
Technology may have gotten better, but it sure isn't being used the way it should be. It should never take more than 1 mth to get back a DNA test.
The man has the right to sue, and I hope he does.
And people wonder why we don't just take all women at their word when it comes to rape cases. Obviously this 9 year old was just pressured into getting the conviction from the DA's office, but even with DNA evidence, how can you absolutely prove rape? Obviously in cases where it involves a minor, it wouldnt matter, but how would you know it wasnt consensual sex that she regretted later? Rape is one of the saddest crimes that occur because it is so hard to prove so most women just have to deal with the pain with no justice, and even when you prove it, you can hardly ever really know that he actually raped the woman.
I would bet dollars to donuts that it was a case of high public opinion which lead to his conviction. Mus like the case in Florida. Guilty until proven innocent!!
How sad! All his youth in a jail. I hope he uses the money that's coming to him wisely, and I wish him the best in life!
I also hope they catch the real criminal.
@ronald hussein reagan the humans are talking go and crawl back under your rock like a good boy
Cops lie to get convictions, which give the states more money to arrest more people. Congress passes more laws to make more money for the correction corporations. Launder 800 Million in drug money, no conviction. Have a doobie on you, go to jail. Only in America!
Fourteen years for an ATTEMPTED rape? That seems rather severe to me.
This story should remind everyone that when we have a death penalty we will convict and KILL innocent people who will never be exonerated.
ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY NOW!
So don the guy lunatic from the movie theater deserves to live because somebody else may have been wrong accused and convicted?
Yes. Do you believe that those who are wrongfully put to death are just "collateral damage" in your mission for revenge?
For all of you screaming about innocent people being executed or falsely convicted please reread the story.
This is the second innocent person the Innocence Project has exonerated this year, and its 16th victory since its creation in 2001.
They have proven the only 16 people have been convicted since 2001. That is less than 1.5 per year. Anyone have any idea how many tens of thousands of people are convicted each year? How many pull a OJ or Blake and get away with serious crimes thanks to a lawyers tricks? Your chances of being falsely convicted rate right up there with winning the lottery.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. We hear that excuse all of the time and it's wearing thin. Pressure is not a valid reason for dishonesty.
Police departments are becoming just as crooked as the criminals and the line is continuing to be blurred. The only pressure departments should be under is to have integrity and honesty in doing their job.
oldman
How many innocents put to death are acceptable to you? How many innocent people were put to death without the opportunity to be saved? What does OJ have to do with the state killing innocent people? Is that your sick idea of payback?
Is the Innocence Project the only way death sentences are overturned? I don't think so.
Diverdown1, it was Williams himself that said "we all make mistakes". Read the article.
GOD only knows how many innocent Black Men are in prison!! Racism in the justice system is ENDEMIC, people railroaded on a daily basis! This has been the reality for Black people for HUNDREDS of years. And IF this President had any once of courage, he would address the facts of institutional racism in the justice system. But we all know, he can not do ANYTHING that might be perceived as helping Black People. Even when most every other President has had to deal with the issue of RACE in America! Pathetic!!
mackman
I understand your frustration but I fail to see this as a lack of courage on President Obama's part. Most of these convictions are in state, not federal, courts and I fail to see what action that the President should take even if the convictions were under federal jurisdiction. The justice department does intervene when appropriate on race issues. What do you believe should be done?
this reporter leaves the uninformed reader with an absolutely FALSE knowledge that the innocence project has freed 16 innocent people. this particular chapter of the innocence project has freed 16 innocent people, but there are several chapters and all-told the innocence project has freed HUNDREDS of innocent people.
Tiredoldman:
Wow. You must be REALLY exhausted to use this argument.
Do you really think these organizations test EVERY conviction? They take on a limited and highly vetted number of cases. Duh.
Man, you need to get your head outa your.....
Junicon (#1.8) - Theoretically, I do not oppose the Death Penalty. Key word here - 'theoretically'. In reality, we do have a problem with too many cases like this, where the person is innocent of the crime accused. Because of that, I do not support the Death Penalty at this time. But if ever I walked in on a crime like that, I think my adrenaline would kick in so heavy, that I'd probably kill the perp in defense of the child, so no one would have to worry about whether the perp was guilty or not since the perp was caught in the act and met justice instantly. I'm glad that the innocent man put behind bars was finally proved innocent and released. And he deserves to be paid for all the time he did serving for someone else's awful crime. What is also tragic here is that the real perp got away and who knows how many other children were victimized due to the real perp still being out there on the streets.
@don, maybe he could convene a panel, study, or investigation to look into the historic, and present day effects of institutional racism in the justice system at the state, and federal levels. Come up with factual data, and possible solutions. In Illinois, their Justice Dept had to review hundreds of cases similar to this one.
How did the police ever get to use the clothing as evidence, since they waited a week to take possession of the items? This man was railroaded from the very beginning. There was never an attempt to find the suspect, they simply made every effort to convict Johnny Williams. How many other girls were attacked by the real predator while Mr Williams was incarcerated?
Lisa
Since people put to death by the state don't "theoretically" die, they really die, maybe it makes sense that the only way to prevent killing innocent convicts is to abolish the death penalty.
He should not have any wait at all for his money! Bad enough he lost this much of his life because of this and he is being quite cool about it. Let's get the man taken care of as he well deserves!
I think I would have some steam to blow off, when I first got out. It would be better for me not to get it for at least a couple of years, or I would blow it all partying.
Sad truth is cops are only interested in making an arrest and calling the case closed, and power hungry prosecutors are only interested in building a good conviction rate. Guilt or innocence have very little to do with it. We see it time after time after time. Thank Zeus for the innocence project. Why are the offending cops and prosecutors never charged with any crime in these oft-repeated cases? Because it's the criminal injustice system and the first rule is CYA. ASHLEY JUDD (DEM-KY) 2014!
It seems that when you hear of one of these mistake convictions, they almost always have a sexual assault involved. It goes beyond cops, D.A.s or Judges. Often Jurys assume that if you were charged, you must be guilty. The more serious the charge, the less likley one is to defend themselves. Mostly due to Anger and misinformation about the offense.
WildBill, I think that is primarily because there is usually DNA taken from rape victims, and that is what they are using as definitive proof in these cases, proving that their clients are not the perpetrators. It is really scary to read about these cases, and one can only wonder how many inmates were wrongly convicted and will never see justice because there is no DNA to exonerate them.
Judges and prosecutors have full immunity by law. Even the police don't have that. Until prosecutors and judges are made to face criminal charges for criminal behavior they have the incentive to do anything, even break the law, to get a conviction.
cornelius tacitus, you are so right!!!
judges & prosecutors are human, just like anybody else!
they make mistakes too!!!
No, Cornelius is completely and utterly incorrect. Judges and lawyers are not immune from the law in any way, and their conduct in court is highly regulated by the law and state/federal bars. If an attorney is caught breaking the law to get a conviction that conviction is oveturned and the attorney is arrested. The problem is that people like him, who apparently can't even bother to do the most basic amount of looking before making absolutely bull@!$%# claims, can't comprehend that an innocent person being convicted does not require prosecutorial or judicial misconduct or criminal activity. No judicial system is perfect, and even with all parties performing within the confines of ethics and the law there is the possibility of an innocent person being convicted. The reason why cases like this rarely see attorneys or judges charged with crimes is because cases like this usually don't involve intentional misconduct or criminal activity from them. wrongful convictions can stem from a variety of causes, such as witness perjury, unintentional mis-identification/testimony from a witness, mis-interpretation of evidence, missing evidence, jury misconduct, jury finding reasonable doubt to not include what actually happened, etc. It is NOT because of "immunity" from criminal prosecution for attorneys, and such immunity does not exist (If it did, then why would we even have laws regulating actions of attorneys and judges?).
I have to wonder what evidence was used to convict him. The girl said she didn't know her attacker (she knew Mr. Williams). And he was arrested on the word of others. No DNA testing was done. It's too bad it took so long to clear him. He seems to have a good attitude. I would be angry. Hopefully, he will get the money he is owed and he can move on with this life.
Maggie ... Read the post on this site ... and you quickly see how fast people are ready to race to judgement without any evidence of real merit or substance ... juries are the same people & "prosecutors" are "persecutors" ...they only want to convict ...they don't care about innocence.
Lawyers, Judges, police, and everyone that are dependent on the system for their livelihood ... All look forward to the expansion of the system ... not justice for the accused ..
Do you really think that they care about a innocent man going to jail? their jobs depend on him ...lol
This is a general statement: I do understand reaching a wrong conclusion based on the evidence that one has at the time. If you are the police and prosecuter, you are doing your job to the best of your ability. At the end of the day, you can sleep well at night and if later it is discovered that you were wrong, then you can make honest and open attempts to make things right.
I DO NOT understand TWISTING evidence to fit a suspect just for the satisifaction of getting a convictionn in the cases where they KNOW that is exactly what they did. How does ANYONE lay their head on a pillow and sleep in their warm house knowing that more likely than not, an innocent person's life has been torn apart? There should be a special place in HELL for people like that who abuse positions of authority. Hell here on Earth and beyond!
it sounds like they coached the girl to implicate him because that's who they wanted to charge
I agree Maggie. Seems like they railroaded him so they could "solve" the crime.
"Evil" has no bounds .... People often perjure themselves for revenge ... "Persecutors" because its their job ..and they want to move forward ..... "Evil" truly prevails in our justice system... and its all about money. most criminal lawyers are "Thieves with Briefcases" instead of guns .. our criminal justice system is a disgrace to our nation ... take the money and run .. is their goal ..
No... she simply didn't say she KNEW her attacker and the police assumed that meant a stranger.
Who was the piece of garbage lawyer that let this happen to his client?
More than likely he had a public pretender as his defense attorney. They get paid regardless of the verdict and most don't spend much time on cases involving the poor. More money to be made defending someone who has access to a lot more cash.
It is a sad indictment of our system that you get the defense you pay for. You see a lot fewer wealthy clients convicted than poorer clients, even though they may be equally guilty or innocent.
Back years ago the police would work just as hard proving you didn't do a crime as they did to prove you did it. Today the police work for the DA and only try to convict someone quick.
If they ever made an honest effort to get it right, it must have been MANY years ago.
I have to wonder...if the judge/jury hearing a case would be so quick to convict if they knew that a wrongful conviction would get them the sentence that was meted out to the convicted.
You're an idiot. Such a justice system would insure no jury ever convicted anyone.
A wrongful conviction should get them double the time
Prosecutors should get double the penalty behind bars, up to life if necessary. Somehow I'm surprised that this case didn't come out of TX.
They must be able to do their job with some immunity, or no one would do it. It sucks, but I see no other way.
By the way, who's money is he, and all wrongly accused and spent years in jail are getting?
Be nice if it was taken from the cops and lawyers salary and or pension
The Tooth Fairy! OMG, who do you think pays for that??? Who do you think pays for criminals to be incarcerated???
I have no problem with my money going to the wrongfully incarcerated. I have a problem with my money going into the pockets of scumbag lawyers and corrupt cops that will nail an innocent person to the wall to further their careers.
Yours & mine, Mikey....Thank the prosecution team!
Good question anonamoose. I wonder if a couple of years behind bars, in general population, would make them work quite a bit. Not to mention the police who investigated the case. However, a lot of time, the police aren't the worst offenders, it's the prosecutors and judges. But then, in most states, judges and prosecutors aren't appointed, rather elected and we know that the next election cycle begins the day after the election results are in.
Do you people even think? What judge, jury or lawyer would ever convict anyone if held responsible for a wrongful conviction?
If wrongful convictions are the result of intentional misconduct by police, DAs, judge or juries, then lawsuits ARE in order and those who acted with misconduct should be liable for it. As it is, wrongly convicted people who are later released because of proven misconduct by DAs are perhaps given cash settlements, but the DAs escape personal culpability and that's wrong.
Good idea, how about you also serve time in prison for every mistake you make at your job, even if your not at fault. That is why you do not determine anything.
Larry 367607, Pull your head out of your arse! Apparently neither you or anyone you know has ever been charged with and tried for a felony they didn't commit. When your life and freedom is at stake for 20+ years and you are up against incompetent police that lie to cover their mistakes, and a prosecutor that deliberately withholds exculpatory evidence, with no recourse by the defendant at time of trial, then you might understand why some people feel it's fine to kill cops, prosecutors, and judges. They have been protected by the criminal injustice system for too long. Do your job right or don't do it. People that like playing god with peoples lives and ruining innocent families need to meet God or Satan real soon.
sawman,
I think Larry's head is quite out of his ass. Criminally lying during court sessions can get you in trouble. The main prosecutor for the Duke Lacrosse rape case got in trouble because he lied. What Larry is pointing out is sometimes you get the wrong guy. Even the most noble cop and prosecutor will be wrong sometimes. Putting them in jail for an honest mistake would scare all cops and prosecutors to the point where no one would be convicted. You can stand on your soupbox and shout. But all you are doing is making annoying noise.
toolchild,
Good handle.
When someone's job is to disseminate justice and affects the freedom of life course of that person, there is a higher responsibility to get things right.
And you will notice that I said "If wrongful convictions are the result of intentional misconduct..." not simply making mistakes.
I am pretty sure it's the taxpayers who pay these people who are wrongly convicted. We live in such a sad state of affairs...that these so called "public servants" will do and say anything to get a conviction. The man is very fortunate to have got out...think of all those who are innocent who never get out!
No amount of money is good enough
That girl should be imprisoned for knowingly letting this man sit in prison. Nobody says that @!$%# though do they?
Yeah, a raped 9-year old child with the adult police twisting her mind is responsible for this!
Sicko! Drink the cool-aid already and reduce the population of idiots!
You look like somekind of goofy foriegner. Crawl back in your cave and give those sheep a break tonight (baah..baaah..no anerien..baah).
Anerien--what you just wrote in #13 has to be the stupidest thing I've seen posted in a loooooong time!! Kids are easily manipulated by adults, and we don't know from the article whether she even testified in the trial! So you want to punish someone who was only 9 years old at the time. What is it that makes you want to pick on a victimized 9 year old, anyway?
He's handling this a lot better than I would. First thing I'd do is hold a press conference and blast the prosecutor. Not only did they waste 14 years of his life, he was also forced to register as a sex offender, which I'm sure has made it very difficult on him to find a job and made his life miserable. No amount of money is going to make up for his time lost.
If the girl was, in any way, coerced into incriminating him then the 500,000 is a joke. If she truly accused him, on her own, then that is what they had to work with. The only catch to this was that they waited a week to test the matierial which meant that it was degraded past the point of use, at that time. Sloppy police work or deliberate evidence tampering?
Not quite. They have the ability to extract DNA from very old samples. But I'll admit, I'm not too positive about the abilities at that time. Probably much less and more rudimentary.
If they are going to be stupid enough to drag their feet on the settlement, then it's better to wait this out and go for more. If you stole 14 years of my life from me...you'd pay big time.
The justice system in this country is a complete JOKE. Money talks, bull@!$%# walks, and the innocent spent time behind bars.
I agree with your last sentence BigRedJJJ. Most of the prisoners in our prisons are the poor and middle class, very few rich. Yes, the rich can hire the big named lawyers, and they get their clients off, or get a deal cut so no prison time is involved.
One set of rules for everyone is the only answer. But when the rich own the system, it's not going to change, without a whole makeover of the whole govt. Right now there are plenty on Wall St who should be in prison, but is there? We all know the answer to that.
$500,000 for 14 years comes out to approx. $35,700. a year. That really is not enough for 14 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit.
Tax payers pay again, they should be sent away how about its time for them to set an example so they are not so eager to just getting a conviction they dont care if they even have the right people they still get paid
Great for him and I hope he has a wonderful life! How many people who are really guilty do other organizations try to get released, because they are different now. Eventually someone will find holes in DNA testing, then what?
I have an idea, how about all you armchair quarterbacks go to prison and serve time everytime you make a mistake at your job. The police go off leads, whether it's a good or bad lead, sometimes that is all they have, the prosecuter decides if they have a case, obviously something pointed to him at the time. Police are not robots, they are human, they sometimes make mistakes, but they also lay their life on the line everyday so idiots can complain about the job they do or their strong unions, say the oath, take the job and do it better, don't be scared........
you really are a tool, child.
there are literally thousands of documented cases of prosecutors and assistant district attorneys withholding exculpatory evidence (evidence that points to a defendants innocence) and the ONLY time a prosecutor did any jail time for knowingly trying to convict a person was either innocents or most likely innocent is the guy who was charging six lacross players with forcible rape, even though he was in possession of video tape proof that three of those duke university students WEREN'T EVEN THERE while the stripper said they were violently raping her. his punishment for trying to get young innocent boys convicted of the worst crime imaginable.......one day in jail, ONE DAY!
What you said is stupid its your job to prove a person is guilty not hold back evidence to get a conviction, but all this has been everywhere and everyone is Black so do you see what going on in this country. Yes they are human but they same police station are not doing there job and this has been going on for years especially with black men. If there were rules these people had to go by and if knowingly held back information that would clear this person they should go to jell for the same time the man went to jail. I understand the judge he is only going by what the DA and defense give him and by law he has to convict after the jurrors come back with a guilty plea. We all make mistakes but nothing like that and its the police job to investigate the case and if there is a doubt in there mind that he didn't do it than by where the uniform they should do the right thing and stand up. They is protect and serve hey there doing one thing they are serving but not protecting innocent people and he lost 14 years of his life what do you say about that and you must be a policman or work in a lawyers office to say something stupid like that and you should be shamed.
you are a total fool when you equate mistakes with knowingly withholding proof of a defendants innocence. in 2006 mike nifong became infamous when all network news reported on the case where nifong was trying to convict 3 duke university lacross team members of forcible violent rape. it was later revealed that two of the three defendants' lawyers had given nifong unimpeachable video documentation that their clients were not even at the alleged crime scene. the only reason this was big news was because he was doing it to rich kids. do you really think you would have heard of this case if it was three destitute kids with public defenders?
this happens every day to the poor. there are literally thousands of documented cases of prosecutors withholding proof of innocence, and other than nifongs' ONE day jail sentence, no prosecutor has ever been jailed, and, in fact, almost never receive any type of punishment whatsoever for trying to convict people that they have actual proof are innocent.
Wait. I don't understand - he served 14 years for ATTEMPTED rape? Men serve less time for ACTUAL rape and ACTUAL child molestation. I think those sentences are far too light, but I find it mind boggling that this guy with no prior criminal record was sentenced in this manner.
If I had to guess, the victim was white and the accused was not-white.
First and foremost, Congratulations Mr. Williams. I'm glad your innocence was finally proved.
HOWEVER.... I do have two questions;
Having never received your High School Diploma, and realizing that mistake; WHY did you not take advantage of the educational opportunities afforded to inmates in a prison. Most, if not all prisons make GED preparations and testing available, and many if not most offer college courses to obtain a degree; WHY did you not take advantage of THAT opportunity. It's not like there were more pressing social engagements you had. No pun intended, but let's face it, you WERE part of a captive audience.
"...Having never received your High School Diploma, and realizing that mistake; WHY did you not take advantage of the educational opportunities afforded to inmates in a prison. Most, if not all prisons make GED preparations and testing available, and many if not most offer college courses to obtain a degree;...."
===
You've been fed a bunch of lies by the mainstream media. All those perks have been GONE
for a long time in many states. When you get sent to the "Po-Po" is the USA, you'll be doing
HARD TIME...no more inmate programs (almost ALL gone due to budget cutbacks), there's
no more prison libraries or gyms (took em all away since prison is supposed to be PUNISHMENT!)
aor ANYTHING at all!
Within the last 10 years, TOUGH ON CRIME politicians and law enforcement
have created a prison system that is highly proficient at PUNISHMENT!
There IS NO MORE REHAB or services in prisons anymore...You're doing HARD TIME
Behind Bars...many prisons have gone to 20 hours lock-down, basically only a little
better than the federal SuperMax but at the state-level.
The attitude has gone ULTRA-HARD EDGED in the system these days.
The guards are highly militarized! Tasers are used and abused EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME!
And for male inmates, If you're small (i.e. less than 190 lbs), you're gonna be DREADING those
four hours when lock-down is OFF...you're gonna TRY to wait it out...but those in-prison gangs
are COMING FOR YA! They want ya...you've been traded or sold for a pack of cigz or a "favor"
and your purchaser wants his DUE ....You gonna be using those lips of yours AND you is
gonna have a SWOLLEN REAR END for almost EVERY DAY OF YOUR SENTENCE...IN fact you're gonna
be GUSHING BLOOD if you're a small guy cuz your gonna be RAPED ALMOST EVERY DAMN DAY!
American Medium to Maximum Security prison is BRUTAL --- Survival of the fittest ONLY!
WHen you get out you're gonna have PTSD...Hyper Vigilance, Enhanced Startle Response,
mistrust of ANYONE in a uniform of any type and revulsion for bologna and wonderbread.
If ANYONE HERE thinks the American Prison system is a piece of cake
or is a three-square-meals-a-day-free kind of system you're WAY OFF!!!
In fact MANY pens are down to only TWO meals a day now
because of budget cutbacks and those meals are SKIMPY NOW!
And cornflakes or bologna on wonderbread and a cup of
watered down soy milk (THERE AIN'T NO REAL MILK in the Po-Po!)
for breakfast and dinner (no more lunch in many po-po's!) will grate
on you real fast! In fact, SCURVY (i.e. lack of vitamin-C) has
made a big comeback in American prisons. In the modern Po-Po
you're gonna be CONSTANTLY HUNGRY these days and that's
gonna leave you constantly PO-od..and in the south it's DAMN HOT!
There is NO AIR CONDITIONING PERIOD...it'll STILL be a 130 F in
your lockdown pen...it is TRULY TRULY MISERABLE! Even the guards
are miserably hot, sweaty and angry and THEY TAKE IT OUT on the
prisoners...Tasers don't leave no evidence or scarring...ONLY AGONY
and writhing in PAIN! And they do it away from the almost everywhere
security cameras...!!! You think prisoners have an oath of
OMERTA (silence)...so do the guards!!!...old guy tasered? I didn't see that!
Young guy Johnny gushing blood from his rear end...I know nothing!
Prison Doctors? Only comes around every few weeks. - Prison nurse is all there is!
Dentist? You're tooth abcess IS NEVER gonna be treated...no money in the system
for dentist services so you'll be in agony for the REST OF YOUR SENTENCE or you
have to BEG the nurse to use those pliers and Tylenol-3 she has.
The boredom of being in lock-down for 20 to 23 hours a day 7/365 will
drive most of you nuts and with the inmates its DOES drive them
nuts. MOST come out with the symptomotology of some form of
minor or major mental illness
American prison systems are NOW absolutely no picnic whatsoever!
Even in the most horrendously overcrowded Thai or Mexican prison,
you at least see some sky and some ground. In the USA all you'll see
is razor wire, concrete and fluoro-lights and light green or grey steel and glass!
US prisons are for PUNISHING NOT REHAB!
@XDm9mm
I would imagine that it would be difficult to try to hold and read a book when both of your hands are covering your a$$.
An one other thing--this is your food in the Po-Po:
Breakfast:
Choice #1 - Bowl of Corn Flakes with three slices of banana
and one cup of Soy Milk! No real milk there for YEARS!
Choice #2 - Bowl of Oatmeal with three slices of banana
and one cup of Soy Milk! Want Extra? Get a cup of Water!
There's plenty-o-that!
You want Coffee and Sugar? NO!
There ain't no coffee or sugar in the Po-Po!
That costs Money! So there ain't none and hasn't been any for YEARS!
As a sweetener you get one tiny paper cup of High Fructose Corn Syrup
which you can add to a cup of water or to your cup of soy milk.
Toast? Jam? - There ain't none! That all costs M-O-N-E-Y!
There ain;t been any there for YEARS!
That bowl of cereal and soy milk is IT!
That's All! Ya get Nothin' Else!
Lunch? - What lunch? You get a snack! A cup of Soy Milk and two of those salty
airline snack food bags which you have to eat in the cafeteria and give BACK the
plastic bag cuz they found people wuz folding over and melting down the plastic
wrap to make shanks (i.e. sharp plastic stabbing weapons). Some Po-Po's now
just serve the mixed nuts in a paper cup. One cup or bag you keep yourself and
the other one you trade for "favors" or cigz. SO AGAIN that's it.. That's lunch!
Dinner: There ain't no other choices; You get one thing.
two cold sandwiches, made out of wonderbread with
some yellow stuff (fake mustard) spread on it and
four slices of bologna - THAT'S IT! There ain't
no other meat! No Turkey, No Ham! No Other Cold Cuts!
The only other food is a few slices of apples or a banana
cuz they're cheap. No carrots, No veggies, No other fruit!
No soups! No meat. No Hope! All the food is pre-prepped and
outsourced and just shipped in on a truck from the outside
and handed out during mealtimes from boxes.
Almost ALL State Pens have been meat free for YEARS!
Hamburger, Fries, Ketchup, Butter? There ain't none EVER!
You can get another cup of Soy Milk or a cup of water if you want tho!
Now you see why prisoners wanna kill someone after a while or when and IF they finally get out?
Imagine eating NOTHING BUT Corn flakes, Oatmeal, Bologna and Mixed Nuts
for YEARS ON END 7 days a week, 365 days a year for DECADES?
Christmas, Thanksgiving? YEAH RIGHT?! Ya get a cheap stale
bran muffin and that's it! There ain't nothing else!
Even the guards get sick of looking at that crap day in day out!
They don't even have to eat it! They is just lookin' at the Po's eatin' it!
No wonder Scurvy (no vitamin C) and Rickets (no Vitamin D) is
coming back rampant throughout the medium and maximum
security prison system.
That stuff you read on Wikipedia and prison websites is TOTAL B.S.!!!
There ain't been no curry pie or coleslaw or hamburger or baked pasta
or fruits and veggies for over TEN YEARS in most state Po-Po's!
All that TOUGH ON CRIME legislation has brought
furious anger down on those prisoners from the
outside world. Y'all elected a whole lotta lockem-up
and throw away the key types who keep REAL QUIET
about what REALLY HAPPENS in the prison system.
Them outsiders don't have a clue how the prison system
has deteriorated in the last ten years. You're now just a
caged animal getting beat-on day-after-day-year-after-year!
When you get sent to Today's Po-Po...
all you gonna get is a beat-down, lotsa Tazering and
2000 high fat high fructose calories along with just
another case of rampant Type-2 diabetes (which they
don't give insulin for cuz that costs money!), rickets
and scurvy.
An one more thing...when that pain from
your rotting teeth becomes UNBEARABLE...youz just
gonna have to pull it out yourself or get that prison
nurse to help yank it out to kill the agony.
There ain't no medical treatment anymore
if you got anything wrong with you, yer on
yer own! No Pills! Just a bandage and some water
not even any alcohol to swab the cuts cuz they took
that away too years ago!
YEAH! It's REALLY THAT BAD!!!!
So if you is "innocent" and/or you is young and small...
on your sentence even if its only two years in the state penn,
you're gonna wanna kill someone when you get out!
If you aren't yet a Rabid, Diseased, Hungry Animal when
you go in, YOU WILL BE when and IF you finally get out!
Governor Perry and the Tea Party crowd would have had him tied to a gurney (they actually would prefer the chair) as quickly as possible.
I'm reading a book, "Constitutional Chaos", by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano. In doing so, I found myself surprised to learn what law makers and the police will do against innocent American citizens to cause them to break the law. Also, learned how we are being lead into government genocide by people who want to disarm American citizens by taking away their constitutional right to bear arms. If you have not read the book, I suggest you do so. You will learn how many politicians are working to destroy American lives through trickery.
I wouldn't be surprised one bit.
Leapole7
Please do not muddy the waters with BS crap from "Kill them all and let Christ sort them out" former Judge Andrew P. Napolitano.
Little people like Mr. Williams mean nothing to him........
Oh, and I think your avatar is about as real as there is a man in the moon.
@serpcom
There is so a man in the moon. I have talked with him before. He isn't happy about that cow that keeps jumping.
I wonder if he has to pay state and federal taxes on the $500,000?
Why, do you think he should? No, he doesn't.
Actually he would have to pay tax on it. Those types of damages are not exempt from tax.