He saw two men running away from a figure on the ground near a dumpster. For the most accurate data, please search on the Detailed View page. But, seconds later, police officers arrived, took him for the rapist and shot him three times. Mr. Hicks, an Innocence Project client, was wrongly convicted of a rape that took place in Philadelphia in 2001. 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. Dennis Zungolo, who testified he saw Hicks pulling up his pants when police arrived, were both placed on restricted duty, the spokesperson confirmed. Reynolds said she was raped by a correctional officer at Coleman for six months while serving time there. scripts he had written while incarcerated. Hicks lawyers allege that the cover-up went well beyond the three officers. She assumed those were police spotlights. Now theyve reached a settlement, Pinellas lawyer arrested after stealing more than $840,000 from clients, deputies say, Christopher Sabella elected as Hillsborough Countys next chief judge, Steven Lorenzo sentenced to death for 2 Tampa murders, How about spending more on preventing crime? I was replacing my beloved EfM predecessor, Dennis Warner, who had died recently of a brain tumor in the prime of his life. (Philadelphia, PA December 17, 2020) Termaine Hicks walked out of Pennsylvania prison SCI Phoenix yesterday. A judge ordered him released last year at age 49, citing evidence that police and prosecutors built their case on fabricated statements from people they coerced as witnesses and later withheld evidence pointing to the likely true perpetrators of the crime. He was convicted and served 19 years in State Correctional Institution Phoenix, about an hour northwest of Philadelphia. Im a playwright, Hicks says. 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. They lied under oath to cover up for shooting an innocent man three times in the back, Innocence Project lawyer Vanessa Potkin said. Before finalizing the decision to drop charges, she consulted with the victims family. McGrody did not return phone calls on Tuesday. But on December 16, 2020, all the news was good. Wanting to reach young people before fateful decisions are made, he began to produce videos on gun violence and bullying. Prayer, revival and Jesus Revolution: Is our rotting culture on the verge of something big? Termaine Hicks was released from SCI Phoenix on Wednesday after a wrongful incarceration of 19 years. He was exonerated 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. But the prosecutors who reworked the case now say at least some of the testimony against Hicks was not true. Ellis arrived with his then-partner, Duane Watson who is currently facing perjury charges after his testimony in a narcotics arrest was contradicted by surveillance video. He wrote 12 plays and musicals while in prison and, now that hes free, he hopes to eventually produce and direct plays. 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. Jason E. Miczek / AP Images for The Innocence Project. 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. Termaine Hicks case marks the 16th exoneration since 2018 attributed to the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office Conviction Integrity Unit. Jason E. Miczek / AP Images for The Innocence Project. 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. All NRE reports represent a moment in time. The Philadelphia District Attorneys Office recently concluded much of the testimony against Hicks was false.Dec. (Philadelphia, PA December 17, 2020) Termaine Hicks walked out of Pennsylvania prison SCI Phoenix yesterday. Termaine Hicks, 47, on West Girard Avenue in West Philadelphia on Dec. 2, 2022. information about the Registry, Assault, Other Violent Felony, Gun Possession or Sale, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense. (Selfless Thinking Expresses Potential that Uplifts People). This is my ministry, he says. In 2001, Mr. Hicks came to the aid of a woman screaming in an alley. 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. I liked how it was staggered, year one through four, he says. Again, no gray hoodie was found. God saw fit to keep me alive. Only after did they realize their mistake Mr. Hicks was not the right person. 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 website is updated daily, frequently with exonerations that occurred in the past. The cover up of shooting an innocent man required the false testimony of three officers and the acquiescence of a dozen more. December can be a busy month for exonerations, as prosecutors and defense attorneys try to wrap up cases before the end of the year. 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. Im just sad because honestly those officers got away with a crime, Rojas said. Many will have a tale of transformation to share. Terms of Use / Privacy Policy / Manage Newsletters, By Associated Press - 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. Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Tracy Brandeis-Roman vacated the conviction and offered a bittersweet congratulations to Hicks. 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. Latino leaders could collaborate with Black communities. We empower youth to use their voice to prevent bullying and violence, says Hicks about his presentations at schools. Hicks lawyers argue that was the light that caused the attacker to flee before Hicks, and then police, arrived. 2023 Innocence Project. We need a whole new system.. Police disciplinary records are currently kept confidential in nearly half of states, including Pennsylvania. Its a joyful day for me and my family, Mr. Hicks said after being released. TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA A federal grand jury has returned a twenty-one count indictment against Andrew Demetric Gillum, 42, and Sharon Janet Lettman-Hicks, A jury believed the polices version of events over Hickss story. As he was sentenced, Hicks told the judge: an innocent man cant sit in jail for long. Hicks 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. After shooting Hicks, Vinson approached and patted him down in search of his weapon. 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. How Black and Latino people did in this last round of redistricting. Finally home, Mr. Hicks said hes most proud of himself for staying strong and remaining determined to prove his innocence. It was ready to take his case. The Innocence Project, which is affiliated with the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, took on Mr. Hicks case in 2011. It was hard to maintain sanity.. 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. 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. 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. As he was reaching for his cellphone to dial 911, the police suddenly arrived, shot him in the back and charged him unjustly. 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. Report an error or add more information about this case. Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude. Copyright 2023 The Washington Times, LLC. Its unfortunate and sad that it took how long it took for me to clear my name.. After his dramatic exoneration and release from prison, Hicks spent six months just trying to ease back into society. Happy Holidays Termaine! After they covered it up, he was wrongly convicted of attacking her. 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. after a wrongful incarceration for 19 years. In addition to the Innocence Project, Mr. Hicks is represented by local counsel Susan Lin of Kairys, Rudovsky, Messing, Feinberg & Lin LLP. S.T.E.P.U.P. 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 Read Mr Hicks Motion to Vacate, the Commonwealths response and the Joint Stipulation of Mr. Hicks and the Commonwealth. 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. Joint Stipulation of Mr. Hicks and the Commonwealth. 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. He was exonerated Deep-seated police misconduct and institutional protections are too often the source of wrongful convictions and injustice in the system. 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. This article was published more than2 years ago. Hicks recruited other prisoners to act in the production. A spokesperson for the District Attorneys Office declined to comment if it would pursue action against the officers. 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. 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 Hicks has always told a different story: He ran into the alley to help the woman when he heard her scream. Termaine Hicks walked out of Pennsylvania prison SCI Phoenix last week. William Campbell, S.J. Its not the closure I wanted but its still closure., The 15 women suing said officers had sexually assaulted and abused them for years. Termaine Hicks, 47, on West Girard Avenue in West Philadelphia on Dec. 2, 2022. One of those plays, Soldiers in the Army of the Lord, was performed at Graterford in 2012 in honor of Hickss EfM graduation. 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