Deep-seated police misconduct and institutional protections are too often the source of wrongful convictions and injustice in the system. 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. But there was no gray hoodie among Hickss clothes that were turned over to police after he was treated for gunshot wounds in the hospital. Im just sad because honestly those officers got away with a crime, Rojas said. Mr. Hicks, an Innocence Project client, was wrongly convicted of a rape that took place in Philadelphia in 2001. Hicks served 19 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. During his time in prison he joined the Education for Ministry (EfM) program, wrote plays, and later formed S.T.E.P.U.P. But the surveillance footage was not provided to Hicks or his lawyers until after his trial had concluded. After his dramatic exoneration and release from prison, Hicks spent six months just trying to ease back into society. 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. The chief medical examiner recanted his prior testimony. 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. He said he was meeting with McGrody, who could answer any further questions. The Innocence Project, which is affiliated with the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, took on Mr. Hicks case in 2011. Based on these lies, Mr. Hicks was convicted of rape, aggravated assault, possessing an instrument of crime, and terroristic threats in 2002 and sentenced to up to 25 years in prison. In prison, I had to coax some of those guys up there. Attempting to reach the Supreme Court as a pro se litigant, would have been an exercise in futility so I withdrew my appellate rights. Twice a month, his attorney, Vanessa Potkin, would call from the Innocence Project. He was exonerated after 19 years. 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. Falsely claiming under oath that they recovered a gun from Mr. Hicks right jacket pocket, which they asserted he placed back in his pocket after he was shot. 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. 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. It was ready to take his case. Even the most seasoned attorney does not likely get the opportunity to go before them, says Hicks, who was by this time arguing his own case pro se. When you look more broadly at the other officers involved in this case, there is a larger pattern of official misconduct, Potkin said. Hicks says, In the judicial system, theres something called finality that is very hard to overcome.. The way that cops approach Black and brown men and women stems from years of systemic racism. They greeted me with such unexpected affection. 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. 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. into a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to produce and promote the videos, which are now being requested in schools around the nation. Though EfM groups commonly gather in parish buildings, some convene in prisons. Theres plenty of us who would give him help. Slichter invited the Rt. In 2015, Mr. Hicks came up for parole, but because he continued to assert his innocence he was denied, and not considered again. She noted that the gun was smeared with blood, while the inside of Hicks coat pocket was clean. She said Hicks had gone to the victim to render aid. Returning & Becoming: Kanuga Christian Formation, Episcopal Parish Network 38th Annual Conference, African American Readings of St. Paul with Dr. Lisa Bowens, Life Together Fellow, Church of Our Saviour, Milton, MA, Graduate Resident Youth or Childrens Minister. 21, 2020. 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. 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. after a wrongful incarceration for 19 years. 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. Termaine Hicks was released from SCI Phoenix on Wednesday after a wrongful incarceration of 19 years. And he was unarmed. This is my ministry, he says. But, seconds later, police officers arrived, took him for the rapist and shot him three times. The Philadelphia police did not immediately return a request for comment on the case, but Anthony Erace, the executive director of the Police Advisory Commission, told the Inquirer he would seek a review of the investigation. 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. He learned a lot about working with people, interpreting the Bible, and communicating faith. McGrody did not return calls Tuesday. As the Psalmist wrote, God knows our frame and remembers we are made from dust. With that understanding, I am able to move forward. Termaine Hicks (Photo: Jason E. Miczek for AP/Innocence Project), Support The National Registry of Exonerations , The Contribution of Forensic and Expert Evidence to DNA Exoneration Cases, Race and Wrongful Convictions in the United States, 2022, Government Misconduct and Convicting the Innocent, Witness Recantations: Preliminary Findings, May 2013, Exonerations in the United States: 1989 - 2012, Tell us about an Exoneration that we missed, Other Philadelphia, Pennsylvania exonerations. Termaine Hicks was released from SCI Phoenix Prison Tuesday, Dec.16, 2020 in Collegeville, Penn. Like the traveler in the parable of the Good Samaritan, the victim had been left beaten, bloody, and half naked. Shop sales in every category.Uh-oh, overstock: Wayfair put their surplus on sale for up to 50% off. Mr. 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. Few will have a story as heart-wrenching as Termaine Hickss. 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. 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. Then, Hicks lawyers say, Vinson used his police radio to contact dispatch. The Innocence Project is affiliated with Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University. Bitterness is cancerous, and this knowledge frees up my mental space: I know God had me. Hicks said the officer shot him in the back as he was reaching into his pocket for his phone to call 911. The latest Tweets from Termaine Hicks (@TermaineHicks). A jury believed the polices version of events over Hickss story. The things that are promised to citizens should be delivered: a fair trial, and a fair look at whats being presented.. 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. 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. after a wrongful incarceration for 19 years. The officers falsely testified at trial that Mr. Hicks had lunged at them while armed with a gun that he pulled from his pocket. Until then, he just wants to spend time with his family as a free person. 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. He said its a sentiment other correctional officers share. California residents do not sell my data request. There were moments, but I did not give up, he said. 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 In 2001, Mr. Hicks came to the aid of a woman screaming in an alley. WebOn February 27, 2003, Hicks was sentenced to between 12 and 25 years in prison. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Realizing Mr. Hicks did not match the description of the attacker provided by a neighbor to 911 and that he was unarmed, the officers embarked on a cover-up, which included: Based on the officers testimony, Mr. Hicks was convicted of rape, aggravated assault, possessing an instrument of crime, and terroristic threats. The gun that was entered into evidence was registered to a Philadelphia police officer. Hicks was convicted of rape and weapons offenses, with 20 officers testifying against him. Three of the women received $1.26 million between them, said their lawyer, James DeMiles. Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Tracy Brandeis-Roman vacated the conviction and offered a bittersweet congratulations to Hicks. The city has settled civil-rights complaints naming Vinson and Ellis as defendants. As the case slowly made its way through the courts, she said she couldnt sleep through the night. Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from the Innocence Project: Police shot Mr. Hicks as he was helping a victim. I was replacing my beloved EfM predecessor, Dennis Warner, who had died recently of a brain tumor in the prime of his life. A spokesperson for the District Attorneys Office declined to comment on whether it would pursue action against the officers. The Innocence Project is affiliated with Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University. Several of the same investigators who worked to convict Wright were also involved in Hollmans case. Help us advocate for the innocent by sharing the latest news from the Innocence Project. WebTermaine Hicks was exonerated on December 16, 2020 after 19 years of wrongful incarceration. The vision is to have these videos in every classroom. He turned S.T.E.P.U.P. 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. Why are prominent Los Angeles Latinos saying such racist things? On Wednesday afternoon, released from the State Correctional Institution Phoenix to his brothers home just a few miles away in Montgomery County, Hicks said he was both overjoyed and overwhelmed. 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. READ MORE: Police shot a Philly man, then accused him of rape. One of those plays, Soldiers in the Army of the Lord, was performed at Graterford in 2012 in honor of Hickss EfM graduation. Is Wakanda Forever too woke for Marvels own good? False testimony was used, and I believe its impossible to say that did not contribute to the conviction.. Copyright 2023 The Washington Times, LLC. Termaine Joseph Hicks, 45, was freed from prison in Philadelphia on Wednesday He was jailed in 2001 after cops Marvin Vinson and Dennis Zungolo testified against him In fact, he'd run to the woman's aid when he heard her screaming and the real rapist ran away All three shots struck Hicks from behind, yet Vinson said he was forced to fire because Hicks was lunging at him. That matched other witness statements that the attacker wore a gray hoodie, while Hicks coat had no hood. (Philadelphia, PA December 17, 2020) Termaine Hicks walked out of Pennsylvania prison SCI Phoenix yesterday. WebTermaine Hicks is an exoneree and IP client. Going back to the morning of the crime, the victim was not able to identify her assailant. The trial judge retired and was replaced by another judge, which really set the ball in motion, explains Hicks. She said she wanted to hold the Bureau of Prisons accountable for the abuse she and others experienced. A police spokesperson said the DA provided details on the allegations only after Hicks case was resolved. Four reasons a credit-card balance transfer may be a bad idea, Dont let paying for a funeral add to your grief, Beware of these pitfalls when planning your own funeral, Sheryl Lee Ralph on her historic Super Bowl act: Its just really neat, Man who died after police used Taser had warned of heart issue, video shows, Memphis officer texted a photo of bloodied Tyre Nichols, records show, Harris, in funeral address, says Tyre Nichols should have been safe. Visitors walked directly through the general population to the other end of the prison where the chapel was, where the classes are held. 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. We may earn a commission from links on this page. I was already a devoted Christian, reading my Bible daily. He served 19 years for a wrongful conviction. The men told me how much they loved Dennis.. For 19 years, Termaine Joseph Hicks maintained his innocence. Medical records and damage to the clothes Hicks was wearing that night showed he had actually been shot in the back, contrary to what police claimed, the Inquirer reported. But as settlement conferences dragged on, the effects of her trauma worsened. 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. All NRE reports represent a moment in time. Hicks was not eligible for parole because he maintained his innocence and would not express remorse for a crime he did not commit. During his wrongful imprisonment, Termaine focused on his mental and spiritual health and used creative writing as an emotional outlet. 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. How Black and Latino people did in this last round of redistricting. Now a free man, 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. Termaine Hicks was released from SCI Phoenix on Dec. 16 after 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. 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. 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