Judge vacates sentence; Tommy Ward to be set free Ward and Fontenot were both granted a retrial a few years later, and again found guilty of Haraway's death. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the judges ruling last year, saying that, Almost no evidence connected him to the crime other than his own videotaped confession, a confession that rang false in almost every particular., The appeals court said Fontenot has brought forth new evidence that is sufficient to unlock the actual innocence gateway and to allow his substantive claims to be heard on the merits. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. Its clear as day.. Fontenot was sentenced to death again but Ward was sentenced to life in prison, according to The Oklahoman. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal . The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. However, court documents filed on Monday (29 August) show that on Friday (26 August), Oklahomas Court of Criminal Appeals reversed the judges decision and reinstated Wards conviction. 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. A federal judge in Muskogee overturned Fontenot's conviction in late 2019. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. 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.. More damningly, Haraway had not been been stabbed as the young men had described. Fontenot is free on bond as the appeals process plays out. Position: WR Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 College: Rutgers Hometown: Canton, PA High School: Canton HS "They have now been in prison for 31 years, serving hard time for a murder committed by someone else. sharing the stories, pictures and loves of Oklahomans across our great state. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Ward remained in prison while the state appealed the ruling, The Associated Press reported at the time. Tommy Ward is still behind bars waiting for an appeal. Newly filed court documents reveal that a man who was one of the subjects of "The Innocent Man" is set to 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. U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear 'Innocent Man' case In addition to his impressive performances, Ward has a true passion for music and the arts. Ward was featured in the Netflix documentary and John Grisham book An Innocent Man. Ward along with Karl Fontenot were convicted of killing Denice Haraway back in the 1980s. 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 9 delivered right to your inbox! Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. About Tommy Ward As a nonprofit news organization,The Frontieris funded by tax-deductible donations made by people who support quality journalism. Tommy Ward - YouTube In both Ward and Fontenots cases, judges issued rulings excoriating investigators for withholding favorable evidence from defense attorneys. 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. 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. Heres a link to the decision, Mark Barrett & The Center on Wrongful Convictions tweeted, with the legal documents confirming the move attached. Newson6.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, Tommy Ward. His previous EPs "Forget Me Not" and "Merry Christmas" both reached the Top 10 on iTunes jazz charts on the first day of their release. Ward and Fontenot were sentenced to death on January 21, 1985 after being found guilty of murdering Haraway. Mark Barrett and Greg Swygert , the attorneys representing Tommy Ward, spoke with The Frontier this week about the status of Ward's case to have his 1989 murder conviction and life sentence. The state of Oklahoma filed a petition in the U.S. Supreme Court in January arguing that a federal law placing strict time limits on appeals should have barred the claims made in 2016 by Fontenot. Court Extends Temporary Stay 1 Day Before Tommy Ward's Expected Release Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to receive a fair trial. Oklahoma Attorney General responds to innocence claims by 'Innocent Man Fontenots conviction was overturned in 2019, and he was freed pending an appeal by the state. Subscribe and Follow on Facebook and YouTube for the latest music. Tommy Ward- The Innocent Man's Legal Team's Page | Ada OK - Facebook Advertisement On Friday, a judge vacated Ward's convictions and sentences, dismissed the charges and . attempted to take on Fontenot's case in 2013, a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project. He is now 58 years old and says he will not admit guilt even if it means improving his chances at parole. Fontenot is currently awaiting the results of a federal appeal. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. Court rules 'Innocent Man' defendant to remain imprisoned - AP NEWS He often uses his platform to raise awareness for various charitable causes and uses his talents to give back to his community. Fontenot, now 57,was tried twice and given the death penalty both times, though a retrial error led to a new sentence of life without parole. 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. Both have excellent teams of lawyers who continue to work for their release.. The convictions of Ward and Fontenot have come under intense scrutiny for years and have been the subject of numerous books, including John Grishams The Innocent Man, which he produced into a six-part documentary. Court upholds overturned conviction in 'Innocent Man' case At time of writing, he is still serving his life sentence without the possibility of parole, and is now 54 years old. Tuesday 30 August 2022 23:08 Tommy Ward in the 2018 Netflix docuseries 'The Innocent Man' (Netflix) A prisoner featured in the Netflix documentary series The Innocent Man has had his murder. 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. Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the case. Tommy Ward to be set free . 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. Tommy Ward has been in prison for 35 years and was supposed to be released today after a judge dismissed Ward's murder conviction. The only evidence the state used in convicting Ward was a confession that he later claimed was spun wildly from a dream he reported, and only came out after intense pressure and hours of brutal interrogation. 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. PublishedDecember 26, 2020 at 10:50 AM CST, KGOU | Local prosecutors again secured their convictions, based largely on their confessions. and his videos on social media have racked up millions of views. He is 54 years old and is being held at the at the North Fork Correctional Center in Sayre in Oklahoma. The investigators seem to have taken on the role of prosecutor, judge and jury, determining that the only relevant evidence was evidence that fit their theory of the case.. have asked the court of appeals . The attorneys claim a trove of hundreds of new documents uncovered in a police storage room back up Fontenots claims of innocence. Last week, a Pontotoc County District Court judge ordered Tommy Ward be released from prison. We cant do it without your support. News9.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, Ward's attorney, Mark Barrett, will also be filing an appeal for exoneration. - QUINCY JONES, 27 time GRAMMY-award-winning producer "A fine singer A lovely, silky voice." 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. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. 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'. Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to receive a fair trial. 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. In 2020, District Judge Paula Inge vacated his conviction, dismissed the charges against him, and ordered him set free. 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. Tommy Ward was one of two men serving a life sentence for the 1984 murder of Denice Haraway in Ada. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 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. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. The two insisted they were innocent, but still ended up convicted of Haraway's murder. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. Which they did after I taped the statement," Fontenot said almost immediately after his interrogation, as described in Grisham's book. It was later upheld when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the state's appeal. Among Fontenots legal team is Donald B. VerrilliJr., the U.S. solicitor general from 2011 to 2016. Justices may determine before the courts term ends this summer whether to review the case. Fontenot, 57 and Tommy Ward, 61, were both twice convicted in Haraways murder. Tommy Ward: The Innocent Man (@WardInnocentMan) / Twitter Courtesy Netflix. "Tommy is the epitome of great music. Heres a link to the decision https://t.co/21UQag7LEi, Tommy Ward: The Innocent Man (@WardInnocentMan) December 19, 2020. More to come. Federal appeals court upholds overturned conviction in Ada 'Innocent 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. Tommy Ward was scheduled to be released in December 2020, but . Karl Fontenot was 20 years old in 1984, when he was arrested for the rape and murder of Donna Denice Haraway along with Tommy Ward. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. 37 years since Ada murder, Ward still in custody - KTEN Ward is the subject of a Netflix docuseries and a book by John Grisham. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. Instead, she had died from a gunshot wound. @WardInnocentMan. The Court of Criminal Appeals ruled Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021 that 60-year-old Tommy Ward remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower court's ruling. mail The ruling, dated Friday, said the withheld evidence, which included witness interviews and police reports, had been available to Ward's defense since 2003 and was not included in Ward's direct appeal after his 1999 conviction. Tommy Ward - Official Site An autopsy showed evidence that she had been shot and no sign that she had been stabbed, per The AP. He reminds me of working with Frank Sinatra in some strange way." Fontenot's case was picked up by The Innocence Project in 2011, but there's . Courtesy. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday reinstated Tommy Ward's murder conviction in an infamous 1984 case out of Ada. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. 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. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. Oklahoma Attorney General's Office Appeals Release Of Tommy Ward Fight for his release from jail crime Netflix Series was released back in 2018, and temporary. Both have excellent teams of lawyers who continue to work for their release." 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. Tweet 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. 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. Tommy Ward, Convicted Murderer and Subject of Netflix's 'The - TheWrap - STEVE WYNN, founder Wynn Resorts "I just saw Tommy in Las Vegas at a corporate event and I was BLOWN AWAY. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. Please refer to our. 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. Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. Ward was convicted in the case in 1989 along with a co-defendant named Karl Fontenot. Fontenot, Wards co-defendant, was ordered released by a federal judge in 2019, and the state is also appealing that order. State asks U.S. Supreme Court to uphold conviction in 'Innocent Man' Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna "Denice" Haraway. In a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project, the author discussed their fates. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. This is new info, and were trying to figure what this means right now. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, A judge reversed the conviction of Thomas Ward, known to the public as Tommy Ward, in 2020, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile, Tommy Ward in the 2018 Netflix docuseries The Innocent Man'. We promise to never spam you. 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. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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.. remains wrongfully imprisoned . He's very disappointed that he's still in prison for a murder he didn't commit, Ward's attorney, Mark Barrett, said Tuesday. The Innocent Man - Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot now - Digital Spy She doesnt believe he could be given a fair trial after more than 30 years. The order is the latest in a string of decisions rebuking the convictions of Ward and Karl Fontenot for an infamous 1984 murder documented in two books and a recent Netflix documentary. These dream confessions came after hours of interrogation by Ada police and state agents desperate to solve the disappearance of Haraway in 1984, just two years after the unsolved rape and murder of another young woman in the small central Oklahoma town. More to come. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Ward was convicted alongside Karl Fontenot for murdering Donna Harraway in Ada. . It also accounts the false convictions of Ward and Karl Fontenot for themurder of Denice Haraway and the false conviction of Greg Wilhoit for the rape and murder of his estranged wife. 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. Tommy Ward, 61, and Karl Fontenot, 58, were . 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. More:Oklahoma Army veteran gets probation for role in Jan. 6 US Capitol riot. 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. 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. The order is the latest in a string of decisions rebuking the convictions of Ward and Karl Fontenot for an infamous 1984 murder documented in two books and a recent Netflix documentary. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Tommy's legal team dedicated to freeing Tommy Ward from prison for a crime he did not commit.. Lawyers for a man whose murder conviction in Oklahoma was overturned after he served more than three decades in prison urged the U.S. Supreme Court this week not to grant the states request to review the case. ADVERTISEMENT So where are the two men now, more than 30 years later? OK man arrested for. 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. 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 2020, Fontenot's co-defendant in the case, Tommy Ward, also had his conviction overturned in state court, but prosecutors have appealed that decision to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. But the men quickly recanted and have claimed for decades that police coerced them to say they killed Haraway. Attorneys in 'Innocent Man' case eye federal court after lower court's YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. Though no physical evidence tied them to Haraways disappearance, Fontenot and Ward initially confessed to the crime after questioning by investigators. She decided to vacate Wards conviction and life sentence, and ordered his release. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. Share Tommy Ward andKarl Fontenot were sentenced to death in 1985 for the murder of Denice Haraway, despite the fact that their confessions didn't match the crime they were accused of. 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. Timmy Ward 2022 Gamelogs | The Football Database The convictions were based almost entirely on accounts they said they retrieved from dreams. Oklahoma Attorney General's Office Appeals Release Of Tommy Ward. 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. What Happened To Tommy Ward And Karl Fontenot? 'The Innocent Man The most recent exculpatory disclosure came in 2019, 31 years after Fontenots conviction.. Ward has also had a widely celebrated opening act run for comedy legend Louie Anderson during his tenure at the Plaza Hotel. Ward's case, and others, have been the. Yale University Honors 9-Year-Old Scientist, Water Main Break In Tulsa Forces Limited Road Closure, Metro Summer Youth Camp Hopes To Prevent Violence In The Community, 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. The Oklahoma Innocence Project, an organization that helps to exonerate those wrongfully convicted, attempted to take on Fontenot's case in 2013, but itsappeals were denied in 2015. "Everything about their confession has been proven wrong by the discovery of the body," attorney Janet Davis noted in the documentary. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Tommy Ward from Netflix documentary has murder conviction reinstated This contradicted the confessions, which stated that Haraway had been stabbed to death. Tommy Ward one of the subjects of Netflix's true-crime docuseries "The Innocent Man," who was convicted of abduction, rape and the murder of an Oklahoma woman is to be released from . Wr Hines Ward - NFL.com /a > attorneys representing Tommy Ward was one of two serving! An Oklahoma judge ruled that the case rested on circumstantial evidence. 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. You can opt-out at any time. Want to support our mission to hold powerful people accountable, give a voice to the voiceless, and shine a light on darkness in Oklahoma? John 3:16. Tommy Ward one of the subjects of Netflixs true-crime docuseries The Innocent Man, who was convicted of abduction, rape and the murder of an Oklahoma woman is to be released from prison (where he was sentenced to life) and all charges against him dismissed, Wards legal team announced Saturday. Fontenot has been released pending a decision from the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. The judge also called the evidence against Ward circumstantial and said nearly all of the details in his confession were inaccurate. Appears the state will retry Karl Fontenot, who was released 2 years ago and subject of #netflix special. Per The Associated Press, the convictions were based almost entirely on accounts they said they retrieved from dreams, and came after hours of interrogation by Ada police and state agents desperate to solve the disappearance of Haraway in 1984, just two years after the unsolved rape and murder of another young woman in the small central Oklahoma town.. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Oklahoma court reinstates 'Innocent Man' murder conviction Attorneys in Ada 'Innocent Man' murder case 'blown away' by content of You can opt-out at any time. The six-part docuseries series, based on John Grishams 2006 best-selling non-fiction book The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town, tells the story of Ronald Keith Williamson, a man wrongfully convicted of rape and murder who spent 11 years on death row before he was exonerated. When you read their briefs, they dont take issue with the fact that this information was withheld from him. Both are model prisoners. Barrett noted that the appeals court ordered the lower court to consider an additional claim regarding new evidence discovered in 2019. [Warning: Spoilers for "The Innocent Man" ahead!]. Ward remains in prison as the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals weighs his case. Judge orders release or new trial for 'Innocent Man' defendant Fontenots and Wards attorneys did not respond to requests for comment. The organization has not offered an update on the status of their efforts. They cant. Ward's accurate description of the blouse was the only information that he gave that was correct in his confession, Barrett said. Oklahoma court reinstates murder conviction of Tommy Ward She said police and prosecutors withheld evidence that would have assisted Wards defense. Prisoner seen in Netflix's The Innocent Man has murder conviction
Cathedral Catholic High School Alumni,
Articles T
