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. 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. The women feared that if they came forward theyd be sent to another federal facility far from their families, interrupting the education and work programs they had at Coleman, which is the largest federal prison in the U.S. Settlements were approved by the Attorney Generals office on Monday. She said Hicks had gone to the victim to render aid. Hicks had been exonerated. Like the traveler in the parable of the Good Samaritan, the victim had been left beaten, bloody, and half naked. Then a 26-year-old father of one, Mr. Hicks had been walking home when he heard a woman screaming. That matched other witness statements that the attacker wore a gray hoodie, while Hicks coat had no hood. During his time in prison he joined the Education for Ministry (EfM) program, wrote plays, and later formed S.T.E.P.U.P. Until then, he just wants to spend time with his family as a free person. They have told me that the trauma of a retrial would be unbearable, she said. According to lawyers, it shows a man in a hoodie dragging the victim into the alley. Hicks was not eligible for parole because he maintained his innocence and would not express remorse for a crime he did not commit. But the prosecutors who reworked the case now say at least some of the testimony against Hicks was not true. He learned a lot about working with people, interpreting the Bible, and communicating faith. An officerwho along with his complicit partner is still currently on the forcefirst shot Hicks three times while he was pulling out a cell phone to call for help for the rape victim. Everything slowed down, says Hicks. 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. 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. Most of these kids had made a single mistake, he says, often as the result of bullying, and their entire lives were disrupted. 21, 2020. 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. Bitterness is cancerous, and this knowledge frees up my mental space: I know God had me. In 2016, the city paid $15,000 to settle a civil-rights lawsuit naming Vinson as one of two officers who dragged a taxi driver falsely accused of stealing a cell phone out of his cab, assaulted him, and told him if he did not like it, he could go back to his country., The Police Advisory Commissions executive director, Anthony Erace, said he was not familiar with Hicks case but would seek a review. Hicks says, In the judicial system, theres something called finality that is very hard to overcome.. In his 19 years behind bars, Hicks always maintained his innocence. 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. Jason E. Miczek / AP Images for The Innocence Project. Mr. Hicks, an Innocence Project client, was wrongly convicted of a rape that took place in Philadelphia in 2001. Hicks exoneration hinged in part on forensic analysis that cast doubt on his testimony. The basics of personal finance, like How to save for a house. Figure out your next step toward financial freedom. Vaccines dont work, masks dont work: Everything government told us about COVID-19 was wrong. 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.. 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. She was badly beaten, so he reached for his cell phone to call 911. One of the bullets that entered the back of his arm lodged in his chest, collapsing a lung and requiring emergency surgery. Slichter describes her first visit to the prison. It was dark, and she suffered a head trauma during the assault. EfM gave me the skills, and this is my gift back to the world. Court records for this case are available from Pennsylvania Eastern District Court. Inmates were sick, some were dying. (Selfless Thinking Expresses Potential that Uplifts People). I could have been paralyzed; there are still fragments of that bullet near my spine. Bryan Busch, who represented 11 women, and Phil Reizenstein, who represents one woman, said they did not want to comment on the settlement amounts until funds were released. McGrody did not return phone calls on Tuesday. Termaine Hicks was released from SCI Phoenix on Wednesday after a wrongful incarceration of 19 years. 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. All Rights Reserved. Joe Rojas, the southeast regional vice president for the workers union, AFGE Council of Prisons, said the case was a black eye for an otherwise hardworking and upright staff. 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. after a wrongful incarceration for 19 years. Recent forensic examinations by the chief medical examiner for the City of Philadelphia and an independent medical examiner conclusively prove that the officer shot Mr. Hicks three times in the back with one bullet entering near his spine, one in his buttock, and one in the back of his right arm. The vision is to have these videos in every classroom. He turned S.T.E.P.U.P. We empower youth to use their voice to prevent bullying and violence, says Hicks about his presentations at schools. 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. (Philadelphia, PA December 17, 2020) Termaine Hicks walked out of Pennsylvania prison SCI Phoenix yesterday. She tried to get gas. Ive been saying the same thing since day one. scripts he had written while incarcerated. But that defendant was acquitted at a re-trial when the defense presented evidence that Officer Ellis planted ballistics and falsely attributed guns to the accused that he did not in fact possess.. Hicks was in South Philadelphia on the early morning of November 27, 2001, when he heard a woman screaming. As he reached for his cell phone to call 911, two police officers ran to the scene. If he needs access to an editor, publisher, or manager. 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. Finally home, Mr. Hicks said hes most proud of himself for staying strong and remaining determined to prove his innocence. Latino leaders could collaborate with Black communities. She noted that the gun was smeared with blood, while the inside of Hicks coat pocket was clean. For 19 years, Termaine Joseph Hicks maintained his innocence. He is going to be returned to something that he should have had on November 27, when police encountered him, but he didnt, Potkin said, the Inquirer reported. Yet, forensic examiners found no blood inside of Mr. Hicks jacket pocket. Termaine Hicks case marks the 16th exoneration since 2018 attributed to the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office Conviction Integrity Unit. 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, Mr. Hicks said he focused on his mental and spiritual health and used creative writing as an emotional outlet. 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. Then, he said he shot Hicks in the chest or stomach. All Rights Reserved. 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. Hicks has a powerful testimony against corruption in policing and the judicial system, but his heart is formed by mercy as much as the call to justice. He was exonerated in 2020. Slichter invited the Rt. Several of the same investigators who worked to convict Wright were also involved in Hollmans case. 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. Then, Hicks lawyers say, Vinson used his police radio to contact dispatch. 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. I feel 100 pounds lighter, he told the Inquirer. You can learn more about how we consider cases here. In the early morning hours of November 27, 2001, Mr. Hicks heard the screams of a woman being raped in an alley in South Philadelphia and went to her aid. After realizing theyd shot an unarmed man who did not match the description of the attacker, the officers conspired to cover it up. He was exonerated after the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office conceded that lead police Prior to our interview, he had just given a talk for the Dutch Consulate at the United Nations in New York City. Website by MADEO. Termaine Hicks, 47, on West Girard Avenue in West Philadelphia on Dec. 2, 2022. 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 The Philadelphia District Attorneys Office recently concluded much of the testimony against Hicks was false.Dec. Press "Enter" or click on the arrow to show results. Hicks lawyers allege that the cover-up went well beyond the three officers. There were moments, but I did not give up, he said. Philadelphia police officer Marvin Vinson arrived on the scene with his partner, Sgt. Video footage showing the actual assailant dragging the woman into seclusion was never shown to jurors and soon disappeared from evidence. The Philadelphia District Attorneys Offices Conviction Integrity Unit sided with Hicks and his lawyers, and Common Pleas Court Judge Tracy Brandeis-Roman vacated his conviction on Wednesday. Along the way I found a hidden talent, he says. This dragging on, its like youre still living it, Reynolds said. Is Wakanda Forever too woke for Marvels own good? But on December 16, 2020, all the news was good. Hicks says Vinson muttered something like, damn, and then began to cry. Rev. The other guys on the [cell] block were shouting. You can learn more about how we consider cases here. CIU chief Patricia Cummings said her office would not retry the case, as it was tainted beyond repair. Termaine Hicks was released from SCI Phoenix Prison Tuesday, Dec.16, 2020 in Collegeville, Penn. 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. So, I could see the sun, or take a shower, or have a phone callbut only one. 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. After they covered it up, he was wrongly convicted of attacking her. A police spokesperson said that the district attorney did not provide details on the allegations until after Hicks case was resolved. The Innocence Project, which is affiliated with the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, took on Mr. Hicks case in 2011. According to the National Registry of Exonerations, police misconduct, like this, has played a role in 35% of wrongful convictions resulting in exonerations since 1989. It was ready to take his case. 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 cover up of shooting an innocent man required the false testimony of three officers and the acquiescence of a dozen more. Again, no gray hoodie was found. 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. She said Hicks had gone to the victim to render aid. But, she added, I do feel that, one case at a time, this system is being improved.. 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. After 19 years in prison, hes been found innocent. We were all mourning. 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. During his wrongful imprisonment, Termaine focused on his mental and spiritual health and used creative writing as an emotional outlet. 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. Only Jesus can do this.you are blessed. A woman had been pistol-whipped, dragged into an alleyway behind what was then St. Agnes Hospital in South Philadelphia, and raped until the rapist was startled and fled the scene. Hicks came from Maryland, Possibly with former slaveowner, White Brown. He often speaks for the Innocence Project. It was hard to maintain sanity.. The men told me how much they loved Dennis.. Hearing a scream pierce the darkness, he ran toward Dunkin Donuts and Saint Agnes Hospital. Prayer, revival and Jesus Revolution: Is our rotting culture on the verge of something big? 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. Attempting to reach the Supreme Court as a pro se litigant, would have been an exercise in futility so I withdrew my appellate rights. Reached by phone Tuesday, Ellis, a crime-scene-unit officer, declined to comment or to confirm he was under investigation. And he was unarmed. In addition to the Innocence Project, Mr. Hicks is represented by local counsel Susan Lin of Kairys, Rudovsky, Messing, Feinberg & Lin LLP. His brothers Tone Hicks and Tyron McClendon greeted him upon release. He served 19 years in prison. 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. All NRE reports represent a moment in time. Thank you for visiting us. WebTermaine Hicks is an exoneree and IP client. They lied under oath to cover up for shooting an innocent man three times in the back, Innocence Project lawyer Vanessa Potkin said. In his first TV interview since his exoneration, Termaine Hicks speaks out to Lester Holt about his case. 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. Only after did they realize their mistake Mr. Hicks was not the right person. When Hicks nudged her, she did not move. It was a chance for me to try to find out how God operates with us. 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. On Wednesday, after 19 years incarceration, Hicks, 45, was, at last, exonerated. In 2001, a police officer shot the 26-year-old Popeyes manager, later telling a court that Hicks If seated, a Cherokee delegate could make a big difference in Congress, How the racial makeup of where you live has changed since 1990, Subscribe to About US to read the latest on race and identity, Examining systemic racism through the lens of his life, Understanding racism and inequality in America. 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. We may earn a commission from links on this page. The timing was uncanny. 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. The trial judge retired and was replaced by another judge, which really set the ball in motion, explains Hicks. 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 Innocence Project is affiliated with Benjamin N. 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