During that time, in the fall of 2008, Hicks joined the EfM group. He was arraigned while handcuffed to a hospital bed. Today Hicks serves alongside Slichter on the board for the Dennis H. Warner Memorial Foundation, which provides EfM scholarships for inmates and assists family members of the incarcerated. As he was reaching for his cellphone to dial 911, the police suddenly arrived, shot him in the back and charged him unjustly. I do feel that, one case at a time, this system is being improved.. 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. Few will have a story as heart-wrenching as Termaine Hickss. He said he felt the amount given to his clients was fair. Most of the more than 120,000 people who have participated in the four-year theological education program will agree. Hicks recruited other prisoners to act in the production. Vinson and Zungolo still work for the Philadelphia police, the Inquirer reported. But the prosecutors who reworked the case now say at least some of the testimony against Hicks was not true. The Philadelphia District Attorneys Office recently concluded much of the testimony against Hicks was false.Dec. But in recent years, evidence has piled up to suggest that the case presented by police and prosecutors was riddled with errors, the Inquirer reported. Hicks calls the Innocence Project team relentless, God-sent, true advocates. Still, it would take nearly another decade to set Hicks free. I was writing Christian plays, engaged in independent study, and searching Scripture. 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. However, the court filings detail the role of Officer Robert Ellis, who testified at trial that he had recovered a .38-caliber Taurus from Hicks right jacket pocket. During his wrongful imprisonment, Termaine focused on his mental and spiritual health and used creative writing as an emotional outlet. How Black and Latino people did in this last round of redistricting. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Hicks tried to appeal his conviction, court records show, claiming that his former defense attorney had erred by not insisting that police show the enhanced surveillance footage. Surveillance tape from that night could reconcile her account with Hicks. The 45-year-old was exonerated on Wednesday, the Philadelphia Inquirer first reported, after a new analysis suggested the conviction was based on false testimony and questionable evidence possibly in an attempt to justify a botched police shooting. 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. He said its a sentiment other correctional officers share. Hicks case is yet another example of the pervasive problem of police perjury in the criminal legal system. At one point, Mr. Hicks was considered for parole, but was ultimately denied because he refused to admit guilt, and continued to maintain his innocence. 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. I could have just disappeared, but I want to be on the front lines. information about the Registry, Assault, Other Violent Felony, Gun Possession or Sale, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense. All NRE reports represent a moment in time. Then the pandemic hit. Upon entering prison, Hicks was forced to separate from his son, who was only 5 years old at the time of his sentencing. Through all the years of trials and incarceration, Hicks never lost faith. 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. And he was unarmed. A neighbor who witnessed the woman being dragged by the assailant from the sidewalk to the alley and called police in real-time, reported that the attacker was wearing a gray hoodie covering his head. Mr. Hicks, an Innocence Project client, was wrongly convicted of a rape that took place in Philadelphia in 2001. It was hard to maintain sanity.. He was exonerated after the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office conceded that lead police officers lied under oath to cover up shooting Hickswho was innocent of any crimein the back three times. Ive been saying the same thing since day one. Copyright 2023 The Washington Times, LLC. The timing was uncanny. 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. He says EfM provided him with a firm foundation so that, like John the Baptist, he would not be a reed shaken by every wind. But, he added: Its unfortunate and sad that it took how long it took for me to clear my name. They have told me that the trauma of a retrial would be unbearable, she said. Photo: Jason E. Miczek/AP Images for The Innocence Project. She noted that the gun was smeared with blood, while the inside of Hicks coat pocket was clean. 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. However, the recent assessments by both the chief medical examiner for the City of Philadelphia and an independent medical examiner concluded that Mr. Hicks was shot from behind meaning he wasnt coming toward the officers when he was shot. For 19 years, Termaine Joseph Hicks maintained his innocence. Abram Depp Settlement The farm of Abram and Lucy Depp was the first of this settlement of African Americans. Is Wakanda Forever too woke for Marvels own good? Lettman-Hicks filed to run for the District 8 seat on June 1, just days before a federal grand jury indicted on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud. READ MORE: Police shot a Philly man, then accused him of rape. But this settlement closes out a difficult chapter in my life as my family and I now embark on a new one.. It was founded in 2012 in conjunction with the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University School of Law. In another, Ellis was one of a number of officers accused of beating a suspect and then arresting him for assault and resisting arrest. the $9.85 million agreement the city struck in 2018 with Anthony Wright. If he needs access to an editor, publisher, or manager. They had stage fright. Police arriving at the scene completely misread the situation, erroneously assuming Mr. Hicks was the assailant, and shot him three times in the back. For the most accurate data, please search on the Detailed View page. Latino leaders could collaborate with Black communities. It was dark, and she suffered a head trauma during the assault. She couldnt clearly see her attacker in the dark, and she suffered a head injury. The men told me how much they loved Dennis.. 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. He often speaks for the Innocence Project. Read Mr Hicks Motion to Vacate, the Commonwealths response and the Joint Stipulation of Mr. Hicks and the Commonwealth. 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. 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. 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. (Philadelphia, PA December 17, 2020) Termaine Hicks walked out of Pennsylvania prison SCI Phoenix yesterday. The basics of personal finance, like How to save for a house. Figure out your next step toward financial freedom. A spokesperson for the District Attorneys Office declined to comment on whether it would pursue action against the officers. Police disciplinary records are currently kept confidential in nearly half of states, including Pennsylvania. During his time in prison he joined the Education for Ministry (EfM) program, wrote plays, and later formed S.T.E.P.U.P. Most of those officers have since retiredas opposed to firing, charges or any semblance of actual accountabilitybut some, like those involved in Hicks case, remain on the force and have even been promoted. Mr. Hicks was transported to the hospital in all of his clothing which was preserved and included only a coat, a striped polo shirt, and white t-shirt but no hoodie. Lauren Reynolds received $600,000 for her settlement - but she said it wasnt about the money. Police disciplinary records are currently kept confidential in. She said Hicks had gone to the victim to render aid. Termaine Hicks case marks the 16th exoneration since 2018 attributed to the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office Conviction Integrity Unit. His brother and friend greeted him upon release. Mr. Gutirrez, the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, and other visitors from outside the prison to the performance. 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. And I believe its impossible to say that did not contribute to the conviction.. When he was sentenced to a maximum of 25 years, he told the judge: An innocent man cant sit in jail for long. But at parole hearings, according to his lawyers, he was penalized for refusing to accept responsibility for the crime. 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. And the gun the officers alleged to have found in his pocket was actually the off-duty weapon of another Philadelphia police officer. Its a joyful day for me and my family, Mr. Hicks said after being released. I dont serve Black people, an attendant told her. Determined to make my dreams come true He learned a lot about working with people, interpreting the Bible, and communicating faith. 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. I dont know how you feel about having a white woman. One of the inmates replied, Miss Ginny, everybody needs a mama! For the first couple of years, she was known as Mama Ginny. Visitors walked directly through the general population to the other end of the prison where the chapel was, where the classes are held. During his wrongful imprisonment, Mr. Hicks said he focused on his mental and spiritual health and used creative writing as an emotional outlet. Im just sad because honestly those officers got away with a crime, Rojas said. Framed for rape in 2001 at the age of 26, Hicks was falsely incarcerated for nearly two decades. 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 cover up of shooting an innocent man required the false testimony of three officers and the acquiescence of a dozen more. Witnesses also testified that they had seen a man in a gray hoodie attack the woman, according to court records. But the surveillance footage was not provided to Hicks or his lawyers until after his trial had concluded. Tell 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. Chester Hollman III was 21, with no criminal record and a job as an armored-car driver, when he was pulled over in Center City one night in 1991 and charged with the fatal shooting of a University of Pennsylvania student in a botched street robbery. 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. The officers falsely testified at trial that Mr. Hicks had lunged at them while armed with a gun that he pulled from his pocket. Twenty-seven judges had looked at my case by then, explains Hicks. Seeing so many inmates broken by the prison system, Hicks determined he would find his strength in God. Wanting to reach young people before fateful decisions are made, he began to produce videos on gun violence and bullying. We need a whole new system.. The Innocence Project recruited high-profile forensic pathologist Michael Baden to determine the direction from which the bullets were fired at Hicks. Three Philadelphia police officers have been reassigned pending an internal investigation into the arrest of Termaine Joseph Hicks, who was cleared of a 2001 rape last week after spending 19 years in prison. Deep-seated police misconduct and institutional protections are too often the source of wrongful convictions and injustice in the system. During the trial a year later, the medical examiner would say he could not determine the direction from which the bullets that struck Hicks were fired. 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. 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. This is my ministry, he says. Hicks came from Maryland, Possibly with former slaveowner, White Brown. Video footage showing the actual assailant dragging the woman into seclusion was never shown to jurors and soon disappeared from evidence. The victim had told police the attack stopped when bright lights shined on her assailant, spooking him. 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?. Its not the closure I wanted but its still closure., The 15 women suing said officers had sexually assaulted and abused them for years. 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 on December 16, 2020, all the news was good. scripts he had written while incarcerated. Then a 26-year-old father of one, Mr. Hicks had been walking home when he heard a woman screaming. 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. When you look more broadly at the other officers involved in this case, there is a larger pattern of official misconduct, Potkin said. Pennsylvanias statute of limitations for perjury and other relevant criminal charges bars prosecution after five years. also offers motivational speaking and training in schools, teaching positive decision-making, how to recognize bullying, and how to communicate with peers who carry guns, sell drugs, or who drink and drive. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Again, no gray hoodie was found. According to her filings, the process of constructing a cover-up began immediately. Hicks survived, but was charged with the rape and sentenced to 12 to 25 years in prison. I cant imagine the hurt in your heart and the million reasons you would have to hate someone but instead you are just happy and thankful. after a wrongful incarceration for 19 years. The cover up of shooting an innocent man required the false testimony of three officers and the acquiescence of a dozen more. WebSettlement Agreement. Reynolds, a former inmate at Coleman, had hoped to go to trial and help spark prison reform. WebTermaine Hicks is an exoneree and IP client. Hicks says, In the judicial system, theres something called finality that is very hard to overcome.. A Pennsylvania court has vacated the rape conviction of Termaine Joseph Hicks, freeing him from prison after almost 19 years. Falsely claiming under oath that Mr. Hicks wore a gray hoodie like that a neighbor described the assailant as wearing. But no officers were prosecuted. Uh-oh, overstock: Wayfair put their surplus on sale for up to 50% off. 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. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Doug Harper at (850) 488 The things that are promised to citizens should be delivered: a fair trial, and a fair look at whats being presented.. He was sentenced to 12 and to 25 years in prison. 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. Hicks served 19 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. 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. Hicks was in South Philadelphia on the early morning of November 27, 2001, when he heard a woman screaming. Vinson told the court he saw Hicks attacking the woman and saw him reach for a gun. He saw two men running away from a figure on the ground near a dumpster. 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. Hicks is the 16th person exonerated by the Conviction Integrity Unit since District Attorney Larry Krasner took office in 2018, and the first to be cleared of a rape. Before finalizing the decision to drop charges, she consulted with the victims family. Termaine Hicks, 47, on West Girard Avenue in West Philadelphia on Dec. 2, 2022. Slichter describes her first visit to the prison. 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 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. 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. The way that cops approach Black and brown men and women stems from years of systemic racism. The website is updated daily, frequently with exonerations that occurred in the past. Only after did they realize their mistake Mr. Hicks was not the right person. 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