During his arrest he was shot three times in the back and the arresting officers lied about the circumstances. 2023 Innocence Project. She began taking medication to try to help. 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. 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. Three shots rang out, striking Hicks in the arm, chest, back, and buttock. The things that are promised to citizens should be delivered: a fair trial, and a fair look at whats being presented.. Settlements for some of the women, some whom are currently still incarcerated there, were higher than the government had initially allocated to pay. Yale honors Black girl who was reported to police as she sprayed lanternfli Tyre Nichols videos join patchwork of violent police footage. Hicks was released from a state prison outside Philadelphia on Wednesday. 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. The day of the incident, detectives viewed surveillance footage which confirmed the assailant was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, which should have excluded Mr. Hicks as a suspect. In 2015, Mr. Hicks came up for parole, but because he continued to assert his innocence he was denied, and not considered again. During his time in prison he joined the Education for Ministry (EfM) program, wrote plays, and later formed S.T.E.P.U.P. 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. Group showed footage of fatal Breonna Taylor raid at restaurant event, dine BLM co-founders cousin dies after police repeatedly use Taser, video shows, Bidens marijuana policy may change attitudes toward immigrants. 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. 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. Police arriving at the scene completely misread the situation, erroneously assuming Mr. Hicks was the assailant, and shot him three times in the back. This article was published more than2 years ago. Hicks recruited other prisoners to act in the production. Im a playwright, Hicks says. Reynolds said she was raped by a correctional officer at Coleman for six months while serving time there. They had stage fright. California residents do not sell my data request. In another, Ellis was one of a number of officers accused of beating a suspect and then arresting him for assault and resisting arrest. 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. Termaine Hicks was released from SCI Phoenix on Wednesday after a wrongful incarceration of 19 years. I feel 100 pounds lighter, he told the Inquirer. This is my ministry, he says. Jason E. Miczek / AP Images for The Innocence Project. 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. Then he pulled out the S.T.E.P.U.P. If the case had not settled, it would have gone to trial next year. We dont ask the men what theyre in for, Slichter says. Hearing a scream pierce the darkness, he ran toward Dunkin Donuts and Saint Agnes Hospital. During his 19 years in prison, Hicks noticed how new inmates entering into the penitentiary were younger and younger. The footage then shows a delivery van arriving, the flash of its headlights flooding the alley. 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 was sentenced to 12 and to 25 years in prison. They have told me that the trauma of a retrial would be unbearable, she said. False testimony was used, said Patricia Cummings, chief of the Conviction Integrity Unit, the Inquirer reported. Then, Hicks lawyers say, Vinson used his police radio to contact dispatch. Then a 26-year-old father of one, Mr. Hicks had been Falsely claiming under oath that Mr. Hicks wore a gray hoodie like that a neighbor described the assailant as wearing. I was writing Christian plays, engaged in independent study, and searching Scripture. For 19 years, Termaine Joseph Hicks maintained his innocence. 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. He was exonerated in 2020. In his 19 years behind bars, Hicks always maintained his innocence. She couldnt clearly see her attacker in the dark, and she suffered a head injury. Thank you for visiting us. Why dont they? All Rights Reserved. And the gun the officers alleged to have found in his pocket was actually the off-duty weapon of another Philadelphia police officer. 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. Potkin said further evidence suggests police planted the gun they said they retrieved from his jacket pocket. Listen: Stories about Black men spending years and even decades behind bars for crimes they didnt. He has always maintained that he arrived at the scene when he attempted to help the victim, she said. 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. Vinson, most recently assigned to the Third Police District, has not responded to requests for comment. 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. 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. Abram Depp Settlement The farm of Abram and Lucy Depp was the first of this settlement of African Americans. Termaine Joseph Hicks was freed from prison in Philadelphia on Wednesday after serving 19 of 25 years on a trumped up conviction Hicks, now 45, was jailed in 2001 after Philadelphia cops Marvin Vinson and Sgt. All three shots struck Hicks from behind, yet Vinson said he was forced to fire because Hicks was lunging at him. Most of these kids had made a single mistake, he says, often as the result of bullying, and their entire lives were disrupted. Bitterness is cancerous, and this knowledge frees up my mental space: I know God had me. It was hard to maintain sanity.. 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. It was before dawn on Nov. 27, 2001, and Termaine Joseph Hicks was at the wrong place at precisely the wrong time. Wanting to reach young people before fateful decisions are made, he began to produce videos on gun violence and bullying. 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. Heres what that means. This dragging on, its like youre still living it, Reynolds said. Twice a month, his attorney, Vanessa Potkin, would call from the Innocence Project. We welcome new information from any source about exonerations already on our list and about cases not in the Registry that might be exonerations. California residents do not sell my data request. As the case slowly made its way through the courts, she said she couldnt sleep through the night. The spokesperson declined to confirm the identity of the third officer under investigation. Then I was invited to EfM by an usher in the church. Nightly Films Termaine Hicks speaks out after 19 years in prison for a crime he didnt commit (Part 1) In his first TV interview since his exoneration, Termaine Hicks She also extended an apology to the victim, whose name was withheld. The man they had just shot did not match the description of the attacker provided by a witness, who saw the assailant dragging the victim into an alley. Vaccines dont work, masks dont work: Everything government told us about COVID-19 was wrong. into a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to produce and promote the videos, which are now being requested in schools around the nation. 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. 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. Now, under the scrutiny of a new investigation, the case against Hicks has fallen apart. after a wrongful incarceration for 19 years. 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 You can learn more about how we consider cases here. The Innocence Project, which is affiliated with the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, took on Mr. Hicks case in 2011. 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. 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. 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. Hicks survived, but was charged with the rape and sentenced to 12 to 25 years in prison. Hicks lawyers allege that the cover-up went well beyond the three officers. His brothers Tone Hicks (left) and Tyron McClendon were there to greet him upon release. 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. Ignatius, Discernment, and You with the Rev. False testimony was used, and I believe its impossible to say that did not contribute to the conviction.. For 19 years, Termaine Joseph Hicks maintained his innocence. A jury believed the polices version of events over Hickss story. Determined to make my dreams come true 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. 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. First, they had to show new evidence in order to ask for a new trial. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. He purchased land and other AA's settled near him. Termaine Hicks, 47, on West Girard Avenue in West Philadelphia on Dec. 2, 2022. Im excited for younow go live your life manyou deserve a good one. Deep-seated police misconduct and institutional protections are too often the source of wrongful convictions and injustice in the system. Hicks came from Maryland, Possibly with former slaveowner, White Brown. 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. Someone grabbed her, dragged her into an alley and raped her at gunpoint. CIU chief Patricia Cummings said her office would not retry the case, as it was tainted beyond repair. 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. The basics of personal finance, like How to save for a house. Figure out your next step toward financial freedom. 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. 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. Hicks didnt want his grandson to see him in prison. They lied under oath to cover up for shooting an innocent man three times in the back, Innocence Project lawyer Vanessa Potkin said. Then a 26-year-old father of one, Mr. Hicks had been walking home when he heard a woman screaming. So, I could see the sun, or take a shower, or have a phone callbut only one. Slichter describes her first visit to the prison. The Registry also maintains a more limited database of known exonerations prior to 1989. Dennis Zungolo, who was with him at the scene, did not return phone and email messages Wednesday. The men told me how much they loved Dennis.. scripts he had written while incarcerated. Twenty-seven judges had looked at my case by then, explains Hicks. When you look more broadly at the other officers involved in this case, there is a larger pattern of official misconduct, Potkin said. He thought about those younger and younger inmates, and knew he needed to get his message to young people before their first encounters with the judicial system. How Black and Latino people did in this last round of redistricting. On a November morning in 2001, Hicks had just walked his little brother, Tyron, to the bus stop in their south Philadelphia neighborhood, when he was called to be a real-life Good Samaritan. Hicks served 19 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. According to lawyers, it shows a man in a hoodie dragging the victim into the alley. Police disciplinary records are currently kept confidential in nearly half of states, including Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is one of 15 states that does not compensate exonerees. Hicks was then charged with the rape and later exonerated after the Conviction Integrity Unit found that the case was built on liespossibly to cover up the unjustified shooting and that forensic evidence easily cleared Hicks who should never have been arrested let alone convicted of the rape. A reporter at the Inquirer since 2013, I cover issues of identity, race, social justice, as well as prisons and the legal system. Press "Enter" or click on the arrow to show results. They shot him three times in the back. Uh-oh, overstock: Wayfair put their surplus on sale for up to 50% off. Termaine Joseph Hicks exonerated after 19 years in prison - Inquirer He often speaks for the Innocence Project. 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. And he was unarmed. The U.S. Supreme Court hears fewer than 1% of criminal cases that it is asked to review. Upon entering prison, Hicks was forced to separate from his son, who was only 5 years old at the time of his sentencing. Hicks lawyers alleged that the cover-up went beyond the three officers. 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. 21, 2020. After his dramatic exoneration and release from prison, Hicks spent six months just trying to ease back into society. 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. The Innocence Project is affiliated with Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University. 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. 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. But no officers were prosecuted. I signed on to start the next year.. Going back to the morning of the crime, the victim was not able to identify her assailant. He was exonerated 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.. One witness was threatened with arrest and the other was promised help on his own pending criminal case in exchange for falsely implicating Hollman. I could have just disappeared, but I want to be on the front lines. Happy Holidays Termaine! 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. There were moments, but I did not give up, he said. But as settlement conferences dragged on, the effects of her trauma worsened. He served 19 years in prison. Hicks was not eligible for parole because he maintained his innocence and would not express remorse for a crime he did not commit. Hicks heard her screams and rushed to help. Until then, he just wants to spend time with his family as a free person. You can learn more about how we consider cases here. After they covered it up, he was wrongly convicted of attacking her. She said she wanted to hold the Bureau of Prisons accountable for the abuse she and others experienced. Deep-seated police misconduct and institutional protections are too often the source of wrongful convictions and injustice in the system. 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. (Philadelphia, PA December 17, 2020) Termaine Hicks walked out of Pennsylvania prison SCI Phoenix yesterday. 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. Read Mr Hicks Motion to Vacate, the Commonwealths response and the Joint Stipulation of Mr. Hicks and the Commonwealth. She said Hicks had gone to the victim to render aid. You cant be in this box when it comes to God and religion, he says. That means its over; youre going to serve your sentence.. 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