Website by MADEO. They greeted me with such unexpected affection. He said he felt the amount given to his clients was fair. The tape showed a man in a gray hoodie dragging the victim into the alley. He also reached out to the Innocence Project. READ MORE: Police shot a Philly man, then accused him of rape. Exculpatory post-conviction evidence was shared with the Philadelphia Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU), which, under District Attorney Larry Krasner and Patricia Cummings, moved to vacate Mr. Hicks conviction yesterday based on the officers false trial testimony. Then he pulled out the S.T.E.P.U.P. Wanting to reach young people before fateful decisions are made, he began to produce videos on gun violence and bullying. Termaine Hicks walked out of Pennsylvania prison SCI Phoenix last week. The Philadelphia District Attorneys Office recently concluded much of the testimony against Hicks was false.Dec. Twenty-seven judges had looked at my case by then, explains Hicks. She assumed the lights were police flashlights, but the enhanced footage suggested the light had instead been the delivery trucks headlights. It was in such a group at the State Correctional InstitutionGraterford, a maximum-security prison in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, that EfM group leader Ginny Slichter met Termaine Hicks for the first time. Vinson, most recently assigned to the Third Police District, has not responded to requests for comment. Attempting to reach the Supreme Court as a pro se litigant, would have been an exercise in futility so I withdrew my appellate rights. She would always say, Ive got some good news and some not-so-good news. The good news was that he still had a chance, and the not-so-good news was another continuance60 days, 90 days, 180 days. We dont ask the men what theyre in for, Slichter says. IE 11 is not supported. Dennis Zungolo, who testified he saw Hicks pulling up his pants when police arrived, were both placed on restricted duty, the spokesperson confirmed. According to the Inquirer, since 2018, 17 defendants have been exonerated in cases involving many of the same officers who led the investigations into Hollmans and Wrights cases. As a result of receiving this information, we have opened an Internal Affairs investigation into the allegations of police misconduct, the spokesperson said in an email. Please avoid sharing any personal information in the comments below and join us in making this a hate-speech free and safe space for everyone. But, he added: Its unfortunate and sad that it took how long it took for me to clear my name. Then a 26-year-old father of one, Mr. Hicks had been Obviously, the worst part of these false convictions is that Black people are having enormous chunks of their lives stolen from them all because America is racist and its justice system reflects that, but the convictions are also a burden on taxpayers who end up footing the bill for settlements because they live in cities where law enforcement cares more about forcing guilty verdicts than they do about actually solving crimes. WebTermaine Hicks is an exoneree and IP client. Joseph Tremaine Hicks, his lawyer said, is going to be returned to something that he should have had when police encountered him the presumption of innocence.. 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. Reynolds said she was raped by a correctional officer at Coleman for six months while serving time there. Web7.9K views, 321 likes, 112 loves, 25 comments, 220 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Innocence Project: Termaine Hicks wrote 12 plays and countless poems during his 19 years of wrongful Termaine Hicks - Just Another Day | Termaine Hicks wrote 12 plays and countless poems during his 19 years of wrongful incarceration. He saw two men running away from a figure on the ground near a dumpster. What she remembered was that after bright lights appeared, the assault stopped. Hicks lawyers allege that the cover-up went well beyond the three officers. Police disciplinary records are currently kept confidential in. I could have been paralyzed; there are still fragments of that bullet near my spine. He said he was meeting with McGrody, who could answer any further questions. He often speaks for the Innocence Project. After 19 years in prison, hes been found innocent. Upon entering prison, Hicks was forced to separate from his son, who was only 5 years old at the time of his sentencing. During that time, in the fall of 2008, Hicks joined the EfM group. Although most of the evidence analyzed in the recent review of the case was available at the time of Hickss original trial, the jury never saw an enhanced security tape that corroborated parts of Hickss story. scripts he had written while incarcerated. According to her filings, the process of constructing a cover-up began immediately. Press "Enter" or click on the arrow to show results. Surveillance tape from that night could reconcile her account with Hicks. In 2003, the Innocence Project had just 15 attorneys and could not take his case. On Wednesday, after 19 years incarceration, Hicks, 45, was, at last, exonerated. Thank you for your understanding in this matter. Potkin also drew parallels to a criminal case, USA v. Mortimer, in which Ellis reported recovering two illegal guns from a suspect during a 1996 traffic stop. Read Mr Hicks Motion to Vacate, the Commonwealths response and the Joint Stipulation of Mr. Hicks and the Commonwealth. He said its a sentiment other correctional officers share. 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. He wrote and directed 12 plays in prison. The other guys on the [cell] block were shouting. Then the pandemic hit. Within 30 days of surrendering his appellate rights, Hicks was contacted by the Innocence Project. But this settlement closes out a difficult chapter in my life as my family and I now embark on a new one.. Thank you for visiting us. Then, Hicks lawyers say, Vinson used his police radio to contact dispatch. My heart was filled with sorrow reading your story but as I saw your smile in the video, my tears of sorrow became tears of joy. Why dont they? Now a free man, Termaine Hicks was released from SCI Phoenix Prison Tuesday, Dec.16, 2020 in Collegeville, Penn. Gutirrez, the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, and other visitors from outside the prison to the performance. A Pennsylvania court has vacated the rape conviction of Termaine Joseph Hicks, freeing him from prison after almost 19 years. As a result of receiving this information, we have opened an Internal Affairs investigation into the allegations of police misconduct, the spokesperson said in an email. Is Wakanda Forever too woke for Marvels own good? Earlier this month, The Root reported that another Black man, 45-year-old Termaine Hicks was exonerated of rape after spending 19 years in a Philadelphia prison. after a wrongful incarceration for 19 years. 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. 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.. And he was unarmed. They were happy for me, banging on doors, he said. He said come sit, check it out. Hicks went to one session as a guest and was intrigued by the concept. The Innocence Project is affiliated with Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University. She tried to get gas. Hicks heard her screams and rushed to help. We need a whole new system.. Why are prominent Los Angeles Latinos saying such racist things? One of those plays, Soldiers in the Army of the Lord, was performed at Graterford in 2012 in honor of Hickss EfM graduation. Prior to our interview, he had just given a talk for the Dutch Consulate at the United Nations in New York City. She said she wanted to hold the Bureau of Prisons accountable for the abuse she and others experienced. The timing was uncanny. I was replacing my beloved EfM predecessor, Dennis Warner, who had died recently of a brain tumor in the prime of his life. 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. In addition to the Innocence Project, Mr. Hicks is represented by local counsel Susan Lin of Kairys, Rudovsky, Messing, Feinberg & Lin LLP. We were all mourning. Philadelphia officials said Wednesday that the city will be paying out $9.8 million in one of the largest wrongful-conviction settlements in the citys history to a Black man who spent 28 years in prison for a murder the district attorneys Conviction Integrity Unit now says it was near impossible that he committed. Mr. Hicks, an Innocence Project client, was wrongly convicted of a rape that took place in Philadelphia in 2001. During his wrongful imprisonment, Termaine focused on his mental and spiritual health and used creative writing as an emotional outlet. As one of the men said, referencing the work of famed public interest lawyer and equal justice activist Bryan Stevenson, Would you want to be known for the worst thing you ever did, for the rest of your life?. Termaine Hicks was released from SCI Phoenix Prison Tuesday, Dec.16, 2020 in Collegeville, Penn. She began taking medication to try to help. In fact, it would be eight years before they could look at it. Hicks recruited other prisoners to act in the production. After his dramatic exoneration and release from prison, Hicks spent six months just trying to ease back into society. Vinson told the court he saw Hicks attacking the woman and saw him reach for a gun. 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. Hicks case is yet another example of systemic police abuse that is pervasive in the criminal legal system and persists because of institutional protections and a lack of accountability, said Vanessa Potkin, director of post-conviction litigation at the Innocence Project, who represented Mr. Hicks. Im a playwright, Hicks says. It was dark, and she suffered a head trauma during the assault. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Doug Harper at (850) 488 Pennsylvanias statute of limitations for perjury and other relevant criminal charges bars prosecution after five years. (Philadelphia, PA December 17, 2020) Termaine Hicks walked out of Pennsylvania prison SCI Phoenix yesterday. He was convicted and served 19 years in State Correctional Institution Phoenix, about an hour northwest of Philadelphia. 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. Yet, forensic examiners found no blood inside of Mr. Hicks jacket pocket. Framed for rape in 2001 at the age of 26, Hicks was falsely incarcerated for nearly two decades. In this case, the new evidence came from Hickss clothing and his own body. But no officers were prosecuted. Photo: Peter Tobia. Hickss case began in the early-morning hours of Nov. 27, 2001, according to a memorandum summarizing the case, as a woman walked to an early shift at Dunkin Donuts. WebHicks Settlement Settled by Tobias Hicks and sons about 1800. Then, he said he shot Hicks in the chest or stomach. Now, Potkin said, hes focused on returning to society, building on his relationship with his son, now 24, and meeting a 2-year-old grandson for the first time. The new analysis outlined a case in which ample physical evidence available 19 years ago ought to have been enough to clear Hicks, who was known in court records as Jermaine Weeks. You cant be in this box when it comes to God and religion, he says. During his time in prison he joined the Education for Ministry (EfM) program, wrote plays, and later formed S.T.E.P.U.P. Settlements for some of the women, some whom are currently still incarcerated there, were higher than the government had initially allocated to pay. Website by MADEO. The Inquirer reported that Hickss lawyer, Vanessa Potkin, said the gun was covered with blood, but the coat pocket, where Vinson claimed Hicks had been keeping the gun, was clean. | 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. Its not the closure I wanted but its still closure., The 15 women suing said officers had sexually assaulted and abused them for years. The cover up of shooting an innocent man required the false testimony of three officers and the acquiescence of a dozen more. 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 was arraigned while handcuffed to a hospital bed. His attorneys celebrated the exoneration Wednesday, noting that Hicks, who was the father of a 5-year-old boy when he was incarcerated, would be able to meet his 2-year-old grandson for the first time. All Rights Reserved. Step up to it!. They instead retired or resigned, and some still receive benefits from their federal employment. In 2001, a police officer shot the 26-year-old Popeyes manager, later telling a court that Hicks reached for a gun after the officer found him raping a woman in a Philadelphia alleyway. Slichter said to them, I dont know how you feel about having a woman for a mentor. Termaine Hicks, Shot in the Back by Philadelphia Police, Is Termaine Hicks case marks the 16th exoneration since 2018 attributed to the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office Conviction Integrity Unit. False testimony was used, and I believe its impossible to say that did not contribute to the conviction.. Potkin notes that several other police officers were at the scene as Hicks was shot or shortly thereafter. Before finalizing the decision to drop charges, she consulted with the victims family. Seeing so many inmates broken by the prison system, Hicks determined he would find his strength in God. When you look more broadly at the other officers involved in this case, there is a larger pattern of official misconduct, Potkin said. This dragging on, its like youre still living it, Reynolds said. He was exonerated after 19 years. 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. His brother and friend greeted him upon release. Wow you are a hero.and a very blessed man. For the most accurate data, please search on the Detailed View page. The Philadelphia police did not immediately return a request for comment on the case, but Anthony Erace, the executive director of the Police Advisory Commission, told the Inquirer he would seek a review of the investigation. Everything slowed down, says Hicks. His brother Tone All NRE reports represent a moment in time. TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA A federal grand jury has returned a twenty-one count indictment against Andrew Demetric Gillum, 42, and Sharon Janet Lettman-Hicks, 53, both of Tallahassee, Florida. The indictment was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. WebLiked by Brandon Hicks Attention School of Law alumni: On Wednesday, March 1, Liberty Law will be holding a memorial service for Curtis Walton, who was tragically murdered All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use / Privacy Policy / Manage Newsletters, By Associated Press - This article was published more than2 years ago. I chose life, because my Father God allowed me to live and continue to grow., Candler School of Theology, Emory University, New CDSP Continuing Ed Courses Include Liberation Theology, New Testament Greek, Emory Universitys Candler School of Theology to Launch Hybrid MDiv in Fall 2023, Trinity Church Wall Street Announces Final Round of 2022 Grants, Bringing the Total to $57 Million, Bexley Seabury Hires Hailey McKeefry Delmas as Director of Deacons Formation Collaborative, Seabury Resources for Aging Introduces Common Threads: An Intergenerational Worship Series, Birds of the Air with the Rev. Rev. 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. There were weeks we never once left our cells. In 2015, Mr. Hicks came up for parole, but because he continued to assert his innocence he was denied, and not considered again. The city has settled civil-rights complaints naming Vinson and Ellis as defendants. 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 and 90s. Philadelphia officials said Wednesday that the city will be paying out $9.8 million in one of the largest wrongful-conviction settlements in the citys history to a Black man who spent 28 years in prison for a murder the district attorneys Conviction Integrity Unit now says it was near impossible that he committed. WebOn 03/15/2022 HICKS filed a Civil Right - Other Civil Right court case against CITY OF PHILADELPHIA in U.S. District Courts. Dennis Zungolo, who was with him at the scene, did not return phone and email messages Wednesday. Mr. Hicks says Vinson muttered something like, damn, and then began to cry. Both Gillum and Lettman-Hicks were indicted as part of the FBI's long-running investigation into public corruption in Tallahassee. The investigation already netted convictions and federal prison time for former Mayor and City Commissioner Scott Maddox, his longtime aide Paige Carter-Smith and wealthy entrepreneur John "J.T." Burnette. A police spokesperson said the DA provided details on the allegations only after Hicks case was resolved. During his wrongful imprisonment, Mr. Hicks said he focused on his mental and spiritual health and used creative writing as an emotional outlet. 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. It was ready to take his case. It was founded in 2012 in conjunction with the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University School of Law. 2023 Innocence Project. Joint Stipulation of Mr. Hicks and the Commonwealth. Most of the more than 120,000 people who have participated in the four-year theological education program will agree. Police claimed that Mr. Hicks had a gun on him as part of their effort to cover up the circumstances of the shooting, but the weapon that was attributed to Mr. Hicks was registered to an active Philadelphia police officer. The officer had not reported the gun missing. WebThe 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 Mr. Hicks was exonerated after the Philadelphia Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU), led by Patricia Cummings, joined the Innocence Projects motion to vacate his conviction. Slichter invited the Rt. You can learn more about how we consider cases here. 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. I survived, he says, and I understood the gravity of the situation right away. Officer Martin Vinson claimed to have witnessed Hicks raping the victim. But the prosecutors who reworked the case now say at least some of the testimony against Hicks was not true. 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. I would remain optimistic and hopeful that the powers that be take a hard look at the numerous officers who were named in that indictment, DeMiles said. Had these records been publicly available, Mr. Hicks may not have had to endure so many years of injustice or been wrongly convicted at all, she said. Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude. There were moments, but I did not give up, he said. WebTermaine Hicks was exonerated on December 16, 2020 after 19 years of wrongful incarceration. 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