One witness was threatened with arrest and the other was promised help on his own pending criminal case in exchange for falsely implicating Hollman. How Black and Latino people did in this last round of redistricting. Making it easier for Black people to vote had unexpected consequences, Latinos who use Spanish-language social media get more misinformation, How public colleges have already backed away from affirmative action. 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It was founded in 2012 in conjunction with the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University School of Law. | Editorial, Tampa man who was first to face trial for Florida voter fraud in 2020 election gets probation, St. Pete womans dream home turns into a nightmare after she finds code violation, DeSantis, GOP lawmakers pursue efforts to weaken news media protections, Florida man paralyzed by officer who mistook gun for Taser sues, Explosive found on Florida-bound Allegiant flight, man arrested, States move to crack down on nurses with bogus diplomas from Florida schools, correctional officers at a federal prison in Florida repeatedly sexually abused them, Florida teen charged as adult in rigged homecoming election. after a wrongful incarceration for 19 years. Though EfM groups commonly gather in parish buildings, some convene in prisons. Hicks heard her screams and rushed to help. It was 2012 by the time Hicks withdrew his appellate rights, which meant he would have another 13 years to serve. Im just sad because honestly those officers got away with a crime, Rojas said. It appears that for years and even decades the Philadelphia criminal justice system has shown a pattern of locking up Black men for crimes they didnt commit based on the work of corrupt police officers and conviction-happy courts that never really consider that a Black defendant might be getting railroaded despite a glaring lack of evidence to support their guilt. 2023 Innocence Project. Then a 26-year-old father of one, Mr. Hicks had been You went with an armed guard, but its still pretty darn intimidating, this long walk to an ugly little room., There were 12 men in the room, and they all stood when I walked in. They had stage fright. Yet, forensic examiners found no blood inside of Mr. Hicks jacket pocket. Mr. False testimony was used, said Patricia Cummings, chief of the Conviction Integrity Unit, the Inquirer reported. scripts he had written while incarcerated. Hicks exoneration hinged in part on forensic analysis that cast doubt on his testimony. Based on these lies, Mr. Hicks was convicted of rape, aggravated assault, possessing an instrument of crime, and terroristic threats in 2002 and sentenced to up to 25 years in prison. For far too long the police have willfully lied with impunity; we need accountability, said Vanessa Potkin, director of post-conviction litigation at the Innocence Project, who represented Mr. Hicks. All three shots struck Hicks from behind, yet Vinson said he was forced to fire because Hicks was lunging at him. When you look more broadly at the other officers involved in this case, there is a larger pattern of official misconduct, Potkin said. However, police did not disclose the surveillance footage until after the trial. He was exonerated after 19 years. Slichter invited the Rt. Lauren Reynolds received $600,000 for her settlement - but she said it wasnt about the money. Prior to our interview, he had just given a talk for the Dutch Consulate at the United Nations in New York City. Termaine Hicks was released from SCI Phoenix Prison Tuesday, Dec.16, 2020 in Collegeville, Penn. All Rights Reserved. All Rights Reserved. Everything slowed down, says Hicks. Vinson has not responded to requests for comment and Zungolo referred questions to John McGrody, vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5. Falsely claiming under oath that Mr. Hicks wore a gray hoodie like that a neighbor described the assailant as wearing. December can be a busy month for exonerations, as prosecutors and defense attorneys try to wrap up cases before the end of the year. She said she wanted to hold the Bureau of Prisons accountable for the abuse she and others experienced. CIU chief Patricia Cummings said her office would not retry the case, as it was tainted beyond repair. His brothers Tone Hicks and Tyron McClendon greeted him upon release. Again, no gray hoodie was found. But there was no gray hoodie among Hickss clothes that were turned over to police after he was treated for gunshot wounds in the hospital. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Doug Harper at (850) 488 Hicks case is yet another example of the pervasive problem of police perjury in the criminal legal system. This is my ministry, he says. Then, Hicks lawyers say, Vinson used his police radio to contact dispatch. Dennis Zungolo have been placed on restricted duty and the identity of the third officer has not been released. But as settlement conferences dragged on, the effects of her trauma worsened. Realizing Mr. Hicks did not match the description of the attacker provided by a neighbor to 911 and that he was unarmed, the officers embarked on a cover-up, which included: Based on the officers testimony, Mr. Hicks was convicted of rape, aggravated assault, possessing an instrument of crime, and terroristic threats. A Maryland Dumping Site Was Actually A Black Cemetery. The U.S. Supreme Court hears fewer than 1% of criminal cases that it is asked to review. His attorney Amelia Green said the evidence supporting Hollmans innocence which garnered media attention first in the form of a 2017 report in The Inquirer and, in April, an episode of the Netflix series The Innocence Files put pressure on city officials to resolve the case swiftly, though neither they nor police admit any wrongdoing as part of the settlement deal. There were moments, but I did not give up, he said. Dr. Mark Bozzuti-Jones, Two-Year Spiritual Direction Training Course, Spring Music Season at Trinity Church Wall Street, Parables, Spirituals, and Our Own Stories with the Rev. WebTermaine Hicks was exonerated in December after the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office conceded that lead police officers lied under oath to cover up shooting Mr. Hickswho was innocent of any crimein the back three times. Hicks was not eligible for parole because he maintained his innocence and would not express remorse for a crime he did not commit. His brother Tone Prayer, revival and Jesus Revolution: Is our rotting culture on the verge of something big? Mr. Hicks, an Innocence Project client, was wrongly convicted of a rape that took place in Philadelphia in 2001. The Innocence Project is affiliated with Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University. The National Registry of Exonerations is a project of the Newkirk Center for Science & Society at University of California Irvine, the University of Michigan Law School and Michigan State University College of Law. Potkin notes that several other police officers were at the scene as Hicks was shot or shortly thereafter. For far too long the police have willfully lied with impunity; we need accountability, said Vanessa Potkin, director of post-conviction litigation at the Innocence Project, who represented Mr. Hicks. after a wrongful incarceration for 19 years. Hicks survived, but was charged with the rape and sentenced to 12 to 25 years in prison. When you look more broadly at the other officers involved in this case, there is a larger pattern of official misconduct, Potkin said. She couldnt clearly see her attacker in the dark, and she suffered a head injury. Hicks served 19 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. He was exonerated in 2020. The victim had told police the attack stopped when bright lights shined on her assailant, spooking him. William Campbell, S.J. Hicks lawyers allege that the cover-up went well beyond the three officers. Listen: Stories about Black men spending years and even decades behind bars for crimes they didnt. I am quite cognizant of the pain and the trauma of the victim, and then more pain in realizing that the wrong person was convicted, Brandeis-Roman said Wednesday, the Inquirer reported. Vinson and Zungolo still work for the Philadelphia police, the Inquirer reported. Hicks came from Maryland, Possibly with former slaveowner, White Brown. We welcome new information from any source about exonerations already on our list and about cases not in the Registry that might be exonerations. (Selfless Thinking Expresses Potential that Uplifts People). The gun police said they found on Hicks was registered to another Philadelphia police officer, who had not reported it stolen or missing, according to court records. As a white man in the deep south(Ms) Ive seen racism and its unfair and uglythis world has no place for that.brother I dont care if you are pink, purple or polka dotted you are welcome to come eat with me and my family anytime.would love to meet you. The Registry provides detailed information about every known exoneration in the United States since 1989cases in which a person was wrongly convicted of a crime and later cleared of all the charges based on new evidence of innocence. It was brutal for the guys in the penitentiary. She also extended an apology to the victim, whose name was withheld. A police spokesperson said the DA provided details on the allegations only after Hicks case was resolved. Inmates were sick, some were dying. There was no evidence linking Hollman to the shooting and the two witnesses who identified him later recanted and said they were coerced by police to give their false testimonies. He purchased land and other AA's settled near him. He said its a sentiment other correctional officers share. The presumption of innocence., Demographic changes: How the racial makeup of where you live has changed since 1990, Newsletter: Subscribe to About US to read the latest on race and identity, George Floyds America: Examining systemic racism through the lens of his life, Resources: Understanding racism and inequality in America. Surveillance tape from that night could reconcile her account with Hicks. He said: I tried to get the male to, uh, you know, put his hands where I could see them, and he was reaching for something and I couldnt see it.. The Innocence Project recruited high-profile forensic pathologist Michael Baden to determine the direction from which the bullets were fired at Hicks. On Wednesday afternoon, released from the State Correctional Institution Phoenix to his brothers home just a few miles away in Montgomery County, Hicks said he was both overjoyed and overwhelmed. She said Hicks had gone to the victim to render aid. The trial judge retired and was replaced by another judge, which really set the ball in motion, explains Hicks. A police spokesperson said that the district attorney did not provide details on the allegations until after Hicks But this settlement closes out a difficult chapter in my life as my family and I now embark on a new one.. His payout is just $50,000 short of the record for settlements of its kind in the city a distinction held by the $9.85 million agreement the city struck in 2018 with Anthony Wright, a man who served nearly 25 years of a sentence for a 1991 rape and murder that DNA evidence proved decades later he did not commit. You can learn more about how we consider cases here. Termaine Hicks, Shot in the Back by Philadelphia Police, Is During his 19 years in prison, Hicks noticed how new inmates entering into the penitentiary were younger and younger. Its not the closure I wanted but its still closure., The 15 women suing said officers had sexually assaulted and abused them for years. Most of these kids had made a single mistake, he says, often as the result of bullying, and their entire lives were disrupted. The basics of personal finance, like How to save for a house. Figure out your next step toward financial freedom. But on December 16, 2020, all the news was good. On Wednesday, after 19 years incarceration, Hicks, 45, was, at last, exonerated. The Philadelphia District Attorneys Conviction Integrity Unit agreed with Hicks and his lawyers, civil-rights attorney Susan Lin, and the Innocence Project, that the case was built on lies possibly to cover up the unjustified shooting that were contradicted by newly analyzed and compelling forensic evidence. WebAfter doing time in prison for a crime he did not commit, Termaine Hicks wrote Step Up, a series of educational videos to teach conflict resolution and critical thinking, to help combat Philadelphias gun violence crisis. Hicks said he showed up at the scene moments after the true assailant ran away from those headlights and just a few moments before police arrived. Dennis Zungolo testified against him They claim they found him raping a woman in an alley near a hospital and Three of the women received $1.26 million between them, said their lawyer, James DeMiles. Mr. Hicks, an Innocence Project client, was wrongly convicted of a rape that took place in Philadelphia in 2001. Slichter describes her first visit to the prison. In 2001, Mr. Hicks came to the aid of a woman screaming in an alley. Now theyve reached a settlement, Pinellas lawyer arrested after stealing more than $840,000 from clients, deputies say, Christopher Sabella elected as Hillsborough Countys next chief judge, Steven Lorenzo sentenced to death for 2 Tampa murders, How about spending more on preventing crime? After his dramatic exoneration and release from prison, Hicks spent six months just trying to ease back into society. In addition to the Innocence Project, Mr. Hicks is represented by local counsel Susan Lin of Kairys, Rudovsky, Messing, Feinberg & Lin LLP. Those cases have led to more than a dozen exonerations in recent years and have cost the city more than $35 million since 2018. Its unfortunate and sad that it took how long it took for me to clear my name.. The United States has settled a lawsuit with 15 women who said correctional officers at a federal prison in Florida repeatedly sexually abused them. He had his hand in his pocket because he was going to attempt to call the police when they arrived and shot him in the back. For 19 years, Termaine Joseph Hicks maintained his innocence. Three shots rang out, striking Hicks in the arm, chest, back, and buttock. A jury later convicted Hicks of rape, and a judge sentenced him to up to 25 years in prison. She tried to get gas. That matched other witness statements that the attacker wore a gray hoodie, while Hicks coat had no hood. Potkin said further evidence suggests police planted the gun they said they retrieved from his jacket pocket. During that time, Hicks worked his way through the local trial court, the appellate, and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, until he only had one option remaining: the U.S. Supreme Court. But, he added: Its unfortunate and sad that it took how long it took for me to clear my name. He was convicted and served 19 years in State Correctional Institution Phoenix, about an hour northwest of Philadelphia. Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from the Innocence Project: Police shot Mr. Hicks as he was helping a victim. Shop sales in every category.Uh-oh, overstock: Wayfair put their surplus on sale for up to 50% off. Report an error or add more information about this case. Wow you are a hero.and a very blessed man. The police froze the crime scene and catalogued whatever was there. During his wrongful imprisonment, Termaine focused on his mental and spiritual health and used creative writing as an emotional outlet. I was replacing my beloved EfM predecessor, Dennis Warner, who had died recently of a brain tumor in the prime of his life. Hicks fought for years to get the forensic evidence in his case reviewed. How Education for Ministry changed Termaine Hicks life Trinity Episcopal Church Call: 304-263-0994 Address: 200 West King St, Martinsburg, WV Online Digital Services Donate Home About Trinity Worship Parish Life News & Events Contact Us Trinity Episcopal Church > Church > How Education for Ministry changed Termaine Hicks life But unlike in Wrights case, which was settled on the eve of a civil trial, the agreement in Hollmans case came before he had even filed suit. On December 16, 2020, Termaine Hicks received what he calls the best news Ive heard in all my life. Hicks learned that, after 19 years in prison for crimes he did not commit, he was finally going home. His brothers Tone Hicks (left) and Tyron McClendon were there to greet him upon release. Officer Martin Vinson, who testified that he fired because Hicks was reaching for a gun and lunging toward him, and his then-partner Sgt. It was before dawn on Nov. 27, 2001, and Termaine Joseph Hicks was at the wrong place at precisely the wrong time. Website by MADEO. So, I could see the sun, or take a shower, or have a phone callbut only one. In 2003, the Innocence Project had just 15 attorneys and could not take his case. Watsons role in the case was not clear, and he was not called to testify. The conviction was vacated, and the charge dismissed. Wednesday, December 23, 2020, The Front Page Podcast: Pumping the Brakes, NEW: Its not polite to pretend boys can be girls, SCOTUS takes on Bidens student debt agenda. Im a playwright, Hicks says. Deep-seated police misconduct and institutional protections are too often the source of wrongful convictions and injustice in the system. Termaine Hicks case marks the 16th exoneration since 2018 attributed to the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office Conviction Integrity Unit. It was hard to maintain sanity.. Why are prominent Los Angeles Latinos saying such racist things? Termaine Joseph Hicks, 45, was freed from prison in Philadelphia on Wednesday He was jailed in 2001 after cops Marvin Vinson and Dennis Zungolo testified against him In fact, he'd run to the woman's aid when he heard her screaming and the real rapist ran away Deep-seated police misconduct and institutional protections are too often the source of wrongful convictions and injustice in the system. Termaine Hicks speaks out after 19 years in prison for a crime he didnt commit (Part 1), At least 2 dead after exposure to unknown substance at N.Y. senior facility, Clark Atlanta University students mourn loss of athlete fatally shot near campus, Iranian government to investigate series of poisonings, Pennsylvania man accused of trying to bring explosive on plane, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle asked to leave Frogmore Cottage. Police arriving at the scene completely misread the situation, erroneously assuming Mr. Hicks was the assailant, and shot him three times in the back. She noted that the gun was smeared with blood, while the inside of Hicks coat pocket was clean. I was already a devoted Christian, reading my Bible daily. Settlements for some of the women, some whom are currently still incarcerated there, were higher than the government had initially allocated to pay. A judge ordered him released last year at age 49, citing evidence that police and prosecutors built their case on fabricated statements from people they coerced as witnesses and later withheld evidence pointing to the likely true perpetrators of the crime. Then a 26-year-old father of one, Mr. Hicks had been walking home when he heard a woman screaming. Thank you for your understanding in this matter. Termaine Hicks was released from SCI Phoenix Prison on Dec. 16, 2020, in Collegeville, Penn. The Philadelphia District Attorneys Office recently concluded much of the testimony against Hicks was false.Dec. Most of the more than 120,000 people who have participated in the four-year theological education program will agree. As he was reaching for his cellphone to dial 911, the police suddenly arrived, shot him in the back and charged him unjustly. Then the pandemic hit. She was badly beaten, so he reached for his cell phone to call 911. You cant be in this box when it comes to God and religion, he says. Termaine Hicks, Shot in the Back by Philad Falsely claiming under oath that Mr. Hicks pulled a gun from his pocket, pointed it and lunged at officers before they shot him. They were happy for me, banging on doors, he said. He was exonerated after 19 years. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. One was a 2015 lawsuit alleging that Vinson and another officer had dragged a taxi driver falsely accused of stealing a cell phone out of his cab and assaulted him. The Innocence Project and Philadelphia DAs Conviction Integrity Unit found evidence police lied to cover up the shooting of Termaine Joseph Hicks, a bystander who rushed to help a rape victim. God saw fit to keep me alive. Terms of Use / Privacy Policy / Manage Newsletters, By Associated Press - Police Officer Martin Vinson said he shot Hicks in the chest or stomach as Hicks was pulling a gun from his pocket and lunging toward him. The things that are promised to citizens should be delivered: a fair trial, and a fair look at whats being presented.. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Returning & Becoming: Kanuga Christian Formation, Episcopal Parish Network 38th Annual Conference, African American Readings of St. Paul with Dr. Lisa Bowens, Life Together Fellow, Church of Our Saviour, Milton, MA, Graduate Resident Youth or Childrens Minister. Photo: Peter Tobia. According to the National Registry of Exonerations, The officers involved in this case had extensive internal affairs files with numerous allegations of lying, planting evidence, excessive force, and substantiated complaints filed by civilians. Heres what that means. Dennis Zungolo, who testified he saw Hicks pulling up his pants when police arrived, were both placed on restricted duty, the spokesperson confirmed. What we are doing is just reintroducing simple life decision-making, Hicks explains. There was irrefutable evidence that Chester was innocent, is innocent and has always been innocent and would never have been wrongfully convicted aside from extraordinary police misconduct, Green said. The Best News Ive Heard in All My Li After realizing theyd shot an unarmed man who did not match the description of the attacker, the officers conspired to cover it up. Six of the eight accused officers admitted to having sexual contact with inmates, according to a July document filed by the United States in response to the complaint. After they covered it up, he was wrongly convicted of attacking her. I was writing Christian plays, engaged in independent study, and searching Scripture. Both sides said it did not follow that the gun was smeared in blood, while the interior of the pocket it supposedly came from was pristine. The tape showed a man in a gray hoodie dragging the victim into the alley. Step up to it!. Philadelphia police officer Marvin Vinson arrived on the scene with his partner, Sgt. That means its over; youre going to serve your sentence.. I do feel that, one case at a time, this system is being improved.. Vinson, most recently assigned to the Third Police District, has not responded to requests for comment. NBC10s Brian Sheehan has his story. During that time, in the fall of 2008, Hicks joined the EfM group. After the 5th Circuits ruling, does DACA have a future? Going back to the morning of the crime, the victim was not able to identify her assailant. The agreement announced Wednesday is the latest in a string of seven-figure settlements stemming from claims of misconduct by city police in the late 1980s One of those plays, Soldiers in the Army of the Lord, was performed at Graterford in 2012 in honor of Hickss EfM graduation. When you have a circumstance where at a minimum misconduct is discovered, and at a maximum potential criminal behavior is possible, its got to be examined.. Only Jesus can do this.you are blessed. Immediately, Hicks appealed. Finally home, Mr. Hicks said hes most proud of himself for staying strong and remaining determined to prove his innocence. McGrody did not return phone calls on Tuesday. after a wrongful incarceration for 19 years. Hicks served 19 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. I found what was already there. He created an organization called S.T.E.P.U.P., an acronym for Selfless Thinking Expresses Potential that Uplifts People, and began writing educational scripts that were later turned into films.