Heres a link to the decision, Mark Barrett & The Center on Wrongful Convictions tweeted, with the legal documents confirming the move attached. - QUINCY JONES, 27 time GRAMMY-award-winning producer "A fine singer A lovely, silky voice." The courts exhaustively reviewed voluminous amounts of withheld exculpatory evidence and correctly concluded that this is the rare case in which a habeas petitioner has credibly demonstrated actual innocence, the lawyers said. And the prosecutorial misconduct did not end with the trial: over the next thirty years, the State continued to withhold evidence, releasing it piecemeal only when compelled to do so by multiple court orders, the lawyers told the court. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. mail Later that year, an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Agent interviewed Tommy Ward, who said he, Karl Fontenot, and another man robbed the store Haraway worked at, then stabbed and raped. sharing the stories, pictures and loves of Oklahomans across our great state. I didnt even know what the word 'statement' or 'confessing' meant 'til they told me I confessed to it. 7726 5241 Dial by your location +1 346 248 7799 US Are allowed finish! It was later upheld when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the state's appeal. By: Dana Hertneky. Fontenot is currently awaiting the results of a federal appeal. Tommy Ward. Ward's case, and others, have been the. At 17, he and his band were one of the youngest opening acts in Las Vegas history, completing 90 shows for Billboard #1 artist and Las Vegas headliner of the year, Frankie Moreno. Wards and Fontenots convictions were featured in the John Grisham 2006 book The Innocent Man and a 2018 Netflix series of the same name, as well as the 1987 book Dreams of Ada by Robert Mayer. The state court of criminal appeals voted unanimously to reinstate Tommy Ward's murder conviction. The convictions were based almost entirely on accounts they said they retrieved from dreams. Along with co-defendant Tommy Ward, Karl Fontenot was convicted twice in the kidnapping and murder of Donna Denise Haraway from an Ada convenience store in 1984 and sentenced to life without. Instead, she had died from a gunshot wound. Fontenot's case was picked up by The Innocence Project in 2011, but there's . "They have now been in prison for 31 years, serving hard time for a murder committed by someone else. We promise to never spam you. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. - BART TORRES, 99.7FM The Highway Vibe. featured in the book and television series, Reports: 3 children dead, 2 wounded in attack at Texas home, Kellyanne Conway, George Conway To Divorce After Decadeslong Marriage: Report, School punished teen girl for working out in sports bra in 100-degree Texas heat, ACLU says, U.S. court won't require FAA to make airplane seat size, spacing rules, 'Extremely dangerous': Spike in illegal crossings at Canada-Vermont border has feds sounding alarm. She said police and prosecutors withheld evidence that would have assisted Wards defense. Also Read: 'The Innocent Man': Netflix Sets December Launch for Docuseries Based on John Grisham Book. And Mr. Fontenot has also established that evidence suppressed by the State prior to his new trial in 1988 led to a violation of his constitutional right to due process., More:Human remains found, Oklahoma white supremacist leader might be connected. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. That evidence includes previously undisclosed suspects and whether police provided Ward with information about the victim's blouse, which prosecutors said he had described. To the extent that this could be the next Sinatra of our time." Ward's accurate description of the blouse was the only information that he gave that was correct in his confession, Barrett said. attempted to take on Fontenot's case in 2013, a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project. John Grisham continues to correspond with both men. Tommy's legal team dedicated to freeing Tommy Ward from prison for a crime he did not commit.. [Warning: Spoilers for "The Innocent Man" ahead!]. In a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project, the author discussed their fates. Haraway had been shot rather than stabbed, was 20 miles away from where the men said her body had been dumped, and she had been wearing different clothes than those Ward and Fontenot described. Ward's newly released EP "From This Moment On," (2022) produced by LeCoq Records, showcases his stunning vocal abilities . The attorneys claim a trove of hundreds of new documents uncovered in a police storage room back up Fontenots claims of innocence. Ward and a co-defendant, Karl Fontenot, were convicted and sentenced to life in prison in the 1984 kidnapping and killing of Donna Denice Haraway, a convenience store clerk in Ada, Oklahoma. In a motion and brief filed Monday on behalf of Tommy Ward, one of two men convicted of Haraway's murder in Ada and who was featured in the John Grisham book the Innocent Man and 2018 Netflix. Ward remains in prison as the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals weighs his case. Ward and Fontenot were both granted a retrial a few years later, and again found guilty of Haraway's death. Fontenot has been released pending a decision from the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. info@tommywardmusic.com | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. Ward and a co-defendant, Karl Fontenot, were convicted and sentenced to life in prison in the 1984 kidnapping and killing of Donna Denice Haraway, a convenience store clerk in Ada, Oklahoma. Fontenot and Thomas Ward were convicted of killing Ada convenience store clerk Donna Denice Haraway in 1984. Want to support our mission to hold powerful people accountable, give a voice to the voiceless, and shine a light on darkness in Oklahoma? OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A man who has spent 35 years in prison in a murder case featured in the book and television series The Innocent Man must remain incarcerated even after a judge ordered his release, an appeals court ruled Thursday. Timmy Ward gamelogs for the 2022 season. The judge found Tommy Ward didnt get a fair trial. The Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the conviction of one man in the 1984 murder of an Ada convienince store worker featured featured The Innocent Man. More:Oklahoma Army veteran gets probation for role in Jan. 6 US Capitol riot. Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. Ward had told police Haraway, 24, was stabbed and buried, but her skull, found more than a year after her disappearance, showed evidence of a gunshot wound and no evidence of stabbing, according to an autopsy. Subscribe for the latest music videos, performances, and more!Tommy's new album "From This Moment On" available n. OK man arrested for. News 9 Team Holds Severe Weather Expo At Penn Square Mall, Sauced On The Paseo Re-Opens 2 Years After Fire, Read Across America Celebration Held At Belle Isle Library, OKC Thunder, Big Brothers & Big Sisters Host Clinic For Kids At Park, TCSO, 'Color Free America' Hold Dialogue Between Citizens And Law Enforcement, First Responders Host Recruitment Fair In Tulsa, Doctors Warn Dangers Of Cannabis Edibles For Children. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. Wr Hines Ward - NFL.com /a > attorneys representing Tommy Ward was one of two serving! I received Christmas cards last week from both Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot, so we keep in touch," Grisham said. Raising the same general categories on post-conviction that one raised on direct appeal, even if the basis is different, will result in a procedural bar," according to the state court's opinion. Share. The ruling came down Friday from District Judge Paula Inge in Pontotoc County, who concluded in post-conviction finding that the case rested on circumstantial evidence in the form of conflicted witness statements and Wards inculpatory statements he gave to police. The appeals court did task the district court with handling a remaining claim from Wards team, according to which newly discovered evidence requires his conviction to be vacated. FILE - This photo provided by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections shows Tommy Ward, who has spent 35 years in prison in a murder case featured in the book and television series 'The Innocent. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. remains wrongfully imprisoned . Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. Which they did after I taped the statement," Fontenot said almost immediately after his interrogation, as described in Grisham's book. have asked the court of appeals . Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. He reminds me of working with Frank Sinatra in some strange way." Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna "Denice" Haraway. PublishedDecember 26, 2020 at 10:50 AM CST, KGOU | You can opt-out at any time. Attorneys for a man convicted for the 1984 kidnapping and murder of an Ada woman say they plan to file a federal case to try and overturn his conviction after the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals overturned a lower court's order that would have made him a free man. Read: Attorney General's Office Appeals Ruling That Would Vacate Sentence Of Tommy Ward, In Tuesdays filing, attorneys representing Ward argued the district judges ruling was fair and reasonable and echoed the judge that the withheld evidence creates a reasonable probability that the outcome would be different.. SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER, FIRST TAKE, 'The Innocent Man': Netflix Sets December Launch for Docuseries Based on John Grisham Book. At only 25 years old, he has already made a name for himself in the entertainment industry, and his videos on social media have racked up millions of views. Haraways body was located after the convictions. - STEVE WYNN, founder Wynn Resorts "I just saw Tommy in Las Vegas at a corporate event and I was BLOWN AWAY. The judge said newly discovered evidence about Fontenots alibi and other suspects in the murder provided solid proof of his probable innocence. Courtesy. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - Convicted murderer Tommy Ward has filed a brief in response to the Attorney General's motion to keep him locked up in prison. a man whose murder conviction in Oklahoma was overturned, Fontenot and Thomas Ward were convicted of killing Ada convenience store clerk Donna Denice Haraway in 1984, which became a Netflix documentary series, Oklahoma Army veteran gets probation for role in Jan. 6 US Capitol riot, Human remains found, Oklahoma white supremacist leader might be connected, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Fontenot was released in December 2019 at the age of 55 after a federal judge ordered he be released or retried. In her 2020 ruling vacating Wards conviction, Judge Inge pointed to what she said were issues with the evidence in the case, and deemed that due to the passage of time, Ward would not be able to receive a fair trial. "Everything about their confession has been proven wrong by the discovery of the body," attorney Janet Davis noted in the documentary. The Attorney Generals office claims in its filing that Fontenot and Ward attempted to minimize their involvement in Haraways death during their confessions by saying the primary aggressor was another man who was never charged with the crime. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Prisoner seen in Netflixs The Innocent Man has conviction reinstated, refused to take up the case and to examine the states appeal, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off & extra perks with Booking.com Genius Membership, 50 cash with friend referrals at Virgin Mobile, 15% off extra plans with this Vodafone promo, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK March 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this March, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. Fontenot, Wards co-defendant, was ordered released by a federal judge in 2019, and the state is also appealing that order. "They said I had a choice to write it or tape it. Please refer to our. Fontenot, 57 and Tommy Ward, 61, were both twice convicted in Haraways murder. The Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. Among Fontenots legal team is Donald B. VerrilliJr., the U.S. solicitor general from 2011 to 2016. Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the case. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. The Pontotoc County District Attorneys office relied solely on investigators to provide it with the evidence needed to prosecute the case without questioning whether the investigators had turned over all exculpatory and/or impeachment evidence, Judge Paula Inge wrote in her December order. The state of Oklahoma engaged in an egregious, decades-long pattern of prosecutorial misconduct to ensure that the facts of Karl Fontenots innocence never came to light, Fontenots legal team told the court. Ward and co-defendant Karl Fontenot's initial convictions and death sentences for Harways death were overturned, but both were again convicted on retrial with Fontenot again receiving a death sentence and Ward being sentenced to life in prison. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal . The state Attorney Generals office appealed the order to overturn Fontenots conviction in federal court and has now announced its intent to appeal the order to release Ward. He is now 58 years old and says he will not admit guilt even if it means improving his chances at parole. Tommy Ward, 61, and Karl Fontenot, 58, were . This photo provided by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections shows Tommy Ward, who has spent 35 years in prison in a murder case featured in the book and television series The Innocent Man'. The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the conviction of one man in the 1984 murder of an Ada convienince store worker featured featured The Innocent Man. Both are model prisoners. News 9s Barry Mangold will have more on the story on News 9 at 10 p.m. Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News on 6 delivered right to your inbox! Oct 28, 2022. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. A state judge overturned Wards conviction in 2020, but the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office has appealed the ruling. Tommy Ward is still behind bars waiting for an appeal. The young woman's disappearance sparked decades of controversy as police scrambled to solve the crime, leading to the convictions of two men: Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot. Both judges found the defendants constitutional rights were violated by police and prosecutors who until 2019 didnt turn over more than 300 pages of documents that would have helped the defendants. Share Along with co-defendant Tommy Ward, Karl Fontenot was convicted twice in the kidnapping and murder of Donna Denise Haraway from an Ada convenience store in 1984 and sentenced to life without parole. Justices should reject the states request to review the case because the evidence in this case qualifies as new evidence of actual innocence under any definition of new evidence, Fontenots lawyers argued. Last week, a Pontotoc County District Court judge ordered Tommy Ward be released from prison. Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. A spokeswoman for Attorney General John OConnor declined to comment on the pending cases. The Oklahoma attorney generals office, which appealed Inges order, declined to comment on Thursdays ruling. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Shot by Shot: Tracking Oklahoma police shootings in 2023, Listen Frontier: Sen. James Lankford speaks with The Frontier about abortion, immigration and more, Frontier content sharing and collaboration terms. The conclusion of "The Innocent Man" docu-series notes that Ward's post-conviction filing has been opposed by the state, but that a judge will review the case in 2019. Fontenots and Wards attorneys did not respond to requests for comment. woodland park, nj recreation department, hinsdale police blotter, tv characters with social anxiety,