remains wrongfully imprisoned . The organization has not offered an update on the status of their efforts. Ward and Fontenot were sentenced to death on January 21, 1985 after being found guilty of murdering Haraway. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. Advertisement On Friday, a judge vacated Ward's convictions and sentences, dismissed the charges and . "They have now been in prison for 31 years, serving hard time for a murder committed by someone else. The judge also called the evidence against Ward circumstantial and said nearly all of the details in his confession were inaccurate. Fontenot has been released pending a decision from the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Tommy Ward: The Innocent Man (@WardInnocentMan) / Twitter The appeals court did task the district court with handling a remaining claim from Wards team, according to which newly discovered evidence requires his conviction to be vacated. 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. Oklahoma Attorney General's Office Appeals Release Of Tommy Ward. 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. She decided to vacate Wards conviction and life sentence, and ordered his release. 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. 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. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and filming for Halloween Ends to release on October 14, 2022 with! attempted to take on Fontenot's case in 2013, a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project. 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. Heres a link to the decision https://t.co/21UQag7LEi, Tommy Ward: The Innocent Man (@WardInnocentMan) December 19, 2020. 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. The state Attorney Generals office appealed the order to overturn Fontenots conviction in federal court and has now announced its intent to appeal the order to release Ward. 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. 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. But now, Wards release has been blocked by the state Attorney Generals Office. Court Rules 'Innocent Man' Defendant to Remain Imprisoned 2023 www.oklahoman.com. 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. Barrett noted that the appeals court ordered the lower court to consider an additional claim regarding new evidence discovered in 2019. 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. . Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal . She was 24. The convictions of Ward and Fontenot have been the subject of numerous books, including John Grishams The Innocent Man, which he produced into a six-part documentary. SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER, FIRST TAKE, 'The Innocent Man': Netflix Sets December Launch for Docuseries Based on John Grisham Book. Ward is currently still in prison while the appeals process continues. The newlywed college student worked as a clerk there at night. 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:Oklahoma Army veteran gets probation for role in Jan. 6 US Capitol riot. 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. 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. His conviction is the subject of the Netflix docu-series "The . The response filed by Fontenots lawyers this week said the vast majority of evidence that the state claims was available in the 1980s was actually being suppressed by the state. The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. The circumstances surrounding Ward and Fontenot's confessions were suspicious from the start, and in fact were later proved to be inconsistent with what had actually happened to Haraway: Her body was ultimately found years after she vanished, 30 miles away from where the duo said they had deposited it. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! You can opt-out at any time. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His 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 . The Court of Criminal Appeals ordered Tommy Ward, 60, to remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower courts ruling that he be released. John 3:16. 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.. The judge said newly discovered evidence about Fontenots alibi and other suspects in the murder provided solid proof of his probable innocence. Wards and Fontenots convictions were featured in the John Grisham 2006 book The Innocent Man and a 2018 Netflix series of the same name, as well as the 1987 book Dreams of Ada by Robert Mayer. Ward's accurate description of the blouse was the only information that he gave that was correct in his confession, Barrett said. 7726 5241 Dial by your location +1 346 248 7799 US Are allowed finish! The convictions were based almost entirely on accounts they said they retrieved from dreams. 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. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. 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. News9.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, The case was the subject of the book, The Dreams of Ada, by Robert Mayer, and was also described in John Grishams The Innocent Man, which became a Netflix documentary series. 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. Oct 28, 2022. Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to receive a fair trial. Fontenot was released from prison about one year ago after a federal judge found he also didnt receive a fair trial. Donate to The Frontier to support local independent investigative journalism. PublishedDecember 26, 2020 at 10:50 AM CST, KGOU | 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. They cant. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. Tommy Ward was one of two men serving a life sentence for the 1984 murder of Denice Haraway in Ada. You can opt-out at any time. Since the age of 16, Ward has had the opportunity to work alongside industry veterans and legends. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A man who has spent 35 years in prison in a murder case featured in the book and television series The Innocent Man must remain incarcerated even after a judge ordered his release, an appeals court ruled Thursday. Ward's newly released EP "From This Moment On," (2022) produced by LeCoq Records, showcases his stunning vocal abilities . This is new info, and were trying to figure what this means right now. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Courtesy Netflix. She doesnt believe he could be given a fair trial after more than 30 years. "The Innocent Man" Tommy Ward files another brief - KFOR.com 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.. Position: WR Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 College: Rutgers Hometown: Canton, PA High School: Canton HS But the men quickly recanted and have claimed for decades that police coerced them to say they killed Haraway. "Tommy is the epitome of great music. 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. Wr Hines Ward - NFL.com /a > attorneys representing Tommy Ward was one of two serving! All rights reserved. Fontenot has been released pending a decision from the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Ward has also had a widely celebrated opening act run for comedy legend Louie Anderson during his tenure at the Plaza Hotel. But one day before Ward's release, a temporary stay,. 19 talking about this. In June this year, the US Supreme Court refused to take up the case and to examine the states appeal. 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.. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna Denice Haraway. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. 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. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Tuesday, July 6th 2021, 11:00 pm. Both Ward and Fontenot would go on to recant their confessions. Ward's newly released EP From This Moment On, (2022) produced by LeCoq Records, showcases his stunning vocal abilities and features truly unique arrangements played by some of the world's most respected musicians, including Bill Cunliffe, John Pattitucci, Vinny Colaiuta, and others. - QUINCY JONES, 27 time GRAMMY-award-winning producer "A fine singer A lovely, silky voice." The most recent exculpatory disclosure came in 2019, 31 years after Fontenots conviction.. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. Court rules 'Innocent Man' defendant to remain imprisoned - AP NEWS @WardInnocentMan. Denice Haraway of Ada, Oklahoma went in for an ordinary day of work at her convenience store job on April 28, 1984. "Everything about their confession has been proven wrong by the discovery of the body," attorney Janet Davis noted in the documentary. 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. Ward is a hardworking and dedicated artist who continues to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Karl Fontenot: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com Fontenot was released in December 2019 at the age of 55 after a federal judge ordered he be released or retried. 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. 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. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. Fontenots and Wards attorneys did not respond to requests for comment. But a Pontotoc County district judge ruled last month that prosecutors withheld key evidence in the case, including witness interviews and police reports, and ordered Wards release. I didnt even know what the word 'statement' or 'confessing' meant 'til they told me I confessed to it. 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. 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. Thomas Ward, known to the public as Tommy Ward, was convicted in 1999 of the 1984 murder of Donna Denice Haraway in Ada, Oklahoma. It was based on the 2006 true-crime book The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town by John Grisham. However, she would never be seen alive again. Tweet After Haraways remains were found in 1986 in rural Hughes County, forensic analysis showed that many of the details in Fontenots and Wards confessions were wrong. The tribulations faced by the pair are depicted in Netflix's latest true crime docu-series, "The Innocent Man," based on the John Grisham book of the same name. 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! Timmy Ward 2022 Gamelogs | The Football Database The court overturned a lower court decision that said because prosecutors and police withheld evidence that could exonerate Tommy Ward, 61, of the 1984 murder of Donna Denice Haraway in Ada. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. We promise to never spam you. tommy ward released 2022 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 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. Subscribe for the latest music videos, performances, and more!Tommy's new album "From This Moment On" available n. 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. Judge vacates Tommy Ward's sentences in 'The Innocent Man' case 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. Judge orders release or new trial for 'Innocent Man' defendant More damningly, Haraway had not been been stabbed as the young men had described. 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'. Judge vacates sentence; Tommy Ward to be set free She said police and prosecutors withheld evidence that would have assisted Wards defense. When you read their briefs, they dont take issue with the fact that this information was withheld from him. mail He is now 58 years old and says he will not admit guilt even if it means improving his chances at parole. He often uses his platform to raise awareness for various charitable causes and uses his talents to give back to his community.
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