And the prosecutorial misconduct did not end with the trial: over the next thirty years, the State continued to withhold evidence, releasing it piecemeal only when compelled to do so by multiple court orders, the lawyers told the court. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna "Denice" Haraway. The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. The order is the latest in a string of decisions rebuking the convictions of Ward and Karl Fontenot for an infamous 1984 murder documented in two books and a recent Netflix documentary. Later that year, an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Agent interviewed Tommy Ward, who said he, Karl Fontenot, and another man robbed the store Haraway worked at, then stabbed and raped. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. Oklahoma Attorney General responds to innocence claims by 'Innocent Man For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 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. Federal appeals court upholds overturned conviction in Ada 'Innocent 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. We are pressing forward exploring the possibility of going to federal court with additional appeals, Barrett said. Want to support our mission to hold powerful people accountable, give a voice to the voiceless, and shine a light on darkness in Oklahoma? Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. Heres a link to the decision, Mark Barrett & The Center on Wrongful Convictions tweeted, with the legal documents confirming the move attached. Fontenots lawyers at first waived the right to respond to the state, but the Supreme Court then requested a response. 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.. But one day before Ward's release, a temporary stay,. The Attorney Generals office claims in its filing that Fontenot and Ward attempted to minimize their involvement in Haraways death during their confessions by saying the primary aggressor was another man who was never charged with the crime. However, court documents filed on Monday (29 August) show that on Friday (26 August), Oklahomas Court of Criminal Appeals reversed the judges decision and reinstated Wards conviction. John Grisham continues to correspond with both men. Forget Me Not EP available now on all major platforms. However, she would never be seen alive again. "Everything about their confession has been proven wrong by the discovery of the body," attorney Janet Davis noted in the documentary. Tommy Ward: The Innocent Man (@WardInnocentMan) / Twitter The Innocent Man - Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot now - Digital Spy Tommy Ward, who was convicted twice for the 1984 kidnapping and murder of Ada convenience store clerk Donna "Denise" Haraway, had his conviction and life sentence overturned and was ordered to. Ward was featured in the Netflix. Ward is a hardworking and dedicated artist who continues to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry. Freed man in 'Dreams of Ada' case slams state appeal to Supreme Court Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. Tweet Ward remains in prison as the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals weighs his case. The Pontotoc County District Attorneys office relied solely on investigators to provide it with the evidence needed to prosecute the case without questioning whether the investigators had turned over all exculpatory and/or impeachment evidence, Judge Paula Inge wrote in her December order. Ward's newly released EP "From This Moment On," (2022) produced by LeCoq Records, showcases his stunning vocal abilities . We cant do it without your support. Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. 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. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. 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. At 17, he and his band were one of the youngest opening acts in Las Vegas history, completing 90 shows for Billboard #1 artist and Las Vegas headliner of the year, Frankie Moreno. 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'. - STEVE WYNN, founder Wynn Resorts "I just saw Tommy in Las Vegas at a corporate event and I was BLOWN AWAY. Tommy Ward. A federal judge in Muskogee overturned Fontenot's conviction in late 2019. Hes very disappointed that hes still in prison for a murder he didn't commit, Wards attorney Mark Barrett told The Associated Press on Tuesday (30 August), adding that the legal team is pressing forward and exploring the possibility of going to federal court.. Fontenots conviction was overturned in 2019 by a federal judge in Muskogee, and that courts ruling was upheld last year by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Fontenot, Wards co-defendant, was ordered released by a federal judge in 2019, and the state is also appealing that order. The courts exhaustively reviewed voluminous amounts of withheld exculpatory evidence and correctly concluded that this is the rare case in which a habeas petitioner has credibly demonstrated actual innocence, the lawyers said. Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the case. The Court of Criminal Appeals ordered Tommy Ward, 60, to remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower court's ruling that he be released. Local prosecutors again secured their convictions, based largely on their confessions. He reminds me of working with Frank Sinatra in some strange way." "They have now been in prison for 31 years, serving hard time for a murder committed by someone else. More:Oklahoma Army veteran gets probation for role in Jan. 6 US Capitol riot. Tommy Ward has been in prison for 35 years and was supposed to be released today after a judge dismissed Ward's murder conviction. 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. Among Fontenots legal team is Donald B. VerrilliJr., the U.S. solicitor general from 2011 to 2016. Subscribe for the latest music videos, performances, and more!Tommy's new album "From This Moment On" available n. That evidence includes previously undisclosed suspects and whether police provided Ward with information about the victim's blouse, which prosecutors said he had described. The state also claims witnesses saw men matching Ward and Fontenots descriptions in the convenience store where Haraway worked before she disappeared. sharing the stories, pictures and loves of Oklahomans across our great state. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and filming for Halloween Ends to release on October 14, 2022 with! She was 24. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - Convicted murderer Tommy Ward has filed a brief in response to the Attorney General's motion to keep him locked up in prison. Attorneys in Ada 'Innocent Man' case request judge vacate Ward's In addition to his impressive performances, Ward has a true passion for music and the arts. Please refer to our. Wr Hines Ward - NFL.com /a > attorneys representing Tommy Ward was one of two serving! Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. 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. Ward is currently still in prison while the appeals process continues. 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. Fontenot. Please refer to our. 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. Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the case. The state court of criminal appeals voted unanimously to reinstate Tommy Ward's murder conviction. When you read their briefs, they dont take issue with the fact that this information was withheld from him. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. The Court of Criminal Appeals ordered Tommy Ward, 60, to remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower court's ruling that he be released. Ward's attorney, Mark Barrett, will also be filing an appeal for exoneration. Tommy's legal team dedicated to freeing Tommy Ward from prison for a crime he did not commit.. His conviction is the subject of the Netflix docu-series "The . a man whose murder conviction in Oklahoma was overturned, Fontenot and Thomas Ward were convicted of killing Ada convenience store clerk Donna Denice Haraway in 1984, which became a Netflix documentary series, Oklahoma Army veteran gets probation for role in Jan. 6 US Capitol riot, Human remains found, Oklahoma white supremacist leader might be connected, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Court upholds overturned conviction in 'Innocent Man' case FILE - This photo provided by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections shows Tommy Ward, who has spent 35 years in prison in a murder case featured in the book and television series 'The Innocent. 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. Heres a link to the decision https://t.co/21UQag7LEi, Tommy Ward: The Innocent Man (@WardInnocentMan) December 19, 2020. Attorneys in 'Innocent Man' case eye federal court after lower court's As a nonprofit news organization,The Frontieris funded by tax-deductible donations made by people who support quality journalism. tommy ward released 2022 Which they did after I taped the statement," Fontenot said almost immediately after his interrogation, as described in Grisham's book. Meanwhile, Fontenot, as explained in the Netflix series, had perhaps offered his testimony to the aggressive police because he both feared for his safety and wanted to escape from what was described as poverty and homelessness. 2022 Reader's Choice Winners . Oklahoma Attorney General's Office Appeals Release Of Tommy Ward Fontenots attorneys have argued that many of the inaccurate details of his confession were supplied by detectives from the Ada Police Department and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations. Courtesy. 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.. Both judges found the defendants constitutional rights were violated by police and prosecutors who until 2019 didnt turn over more than 300 pages of documents that would have helped the defendants. It also accounts the false convictions of Ward and Karl Fontenot for themurder of Denice Haraway and the false conviction of Greg Wilhoit for the rape and murder of his estranged wife. In a motion and brief filed Monday on behalf of Tommy Ward, one of two men convicted of Haraway's murder in Ada and who was featured in the John Grisham book the Innocent Man and 2018 Netflix. Prisoner seen in Netflix's The Innocent Man has murder conviction Fontenot was released from prison about one year ago after a federal judge found he also didnt receive a fair trial. Karl Fontenot, Tommy Ward. Fontenot is free on bond as the appeals process plays out. 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. The convictions of Ward and Fontenot have come under intense scrutiny for years and have been the subject of numerous books, including John Grishams The Innocent Man, which he produced into a six-part documentary. So thats the reason I gave them an untrue statement so they would leave me alone.. Oklahoma court reinstates 'Innocent Man' murder conviction 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. What Happened To Tommy Ward And Karl Fontenot? 'The Innocent Man A spokeswoman for Attorney General John OConnor declined to comment on the pending cases. The Court of Criminal Appeals ruled Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021 that 60-year-old Tommy Ward remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower court's ruling. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. Ward's most recent recording, "Home" with GRAMMY nominated country artist Mark Winston Kirk, is currently in the Top 100 on regional radio and is being played in more than 15 states across the United States, including Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. 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. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Ive never been in jail or had a police record in my life and no one in my face telling me Id killed a pretty woman, that Im going to get the death penalty, so I told them the story hoping they would leave me alone. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. Newson6.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, Karl Fontenot: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com have asked the court of appeals . I received Christmas cards last week from both Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot, so we keep in touch," Grisham said. Ward is currently still in prison while the appeals process continues. Fontenots death sentence was later reduced to life before his conviction was reversed by a federal appeals court. At only 25 years old, he has already made a name for himself in the entertainment industry, and his videos on social media have racked up millions of views. Fontenot was released in December 2019 at the age of 55 after a federal judge ordered he be released or retried. 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. - BART TORRES, 99.7FM The Highway Vibe. Shot by Shot: Tracking Oklahoma police shootings in 2023, Listen Frontier: Sen. James Lankford speaks with The Frontier about abortion, immigration and more, Frontier content sharing and collaboration terms. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. In her 2020 ruling vacating Wards conviction, Judge Inge pointed to what she said were issues with the evidence in the case, and deemed that due to the passage of time, Ward would not be able to receive a fair trial. 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 . Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. Oklahoma Attorney General's Office Appeals Release Of Tommy Ward. We promise to never spam you. Tommy Ward from Netflix documentary has murder conviction reinstated After the details of both mens confessions were proven untrue Haraways body was discovered years later in a different location and had been shot to death not stabbed as the pair had said a state appeals court ordered new trials. 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. The ruling came down Friday from District Judge Paula Inge in Pontotoc County, who concluded in post-conviction finding that the case rested on circumstantial evidence in the form of conflicted witness statements and Wards inculpatory statements he gave to police. Donate to The Frontier to support local independent investigative journalism. The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. Fight for his release from jail crime Netflix Series was released back in 2018, and temporary. Ward's case, and others, have been the. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal . 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 on 6 delivered right to your inbox! OK man arrested for. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. Ward has also had a widely celebrated opening act run for comedy legend Louie Anderson during his tenure at the Plaza Hotel. 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. Ward is the subject of a Netflix docuseries and a book by John Grisham. Fontenot, 57 and Tommy Ward, 61, were both twice convicted in Haraways murder. You can opt-out at any time. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. They cant. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Im still holding out hope that the attorney general of Oklahoma will change course here, take a close look at the case, said Greg Swygert, one of Wards attorneys. Fontenot was sentenced to death again but Ward was sentenced to life in prison, according to The Oklahoman. Attorneys in Ada 'Innocent Man' murder case 'blown away' by content of Its clear as day.. Newly filed court documents reveal that a man who was one of the subjects of "The Innocent Man" is set to be released from prison. 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. The order is the latest in a string of decisions rebuking the convictions of Ward and Karl Fontenot for an infamous 1984 murder documented in two books and a recent Netflix documentary. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. 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. So where are the two men now, more than 30 years later? Judge orders 'Innocent Man' defendant freed - Enidnews.com Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to receive a fair trial. An Oklahoma judge ruled that the case rested on circumstantial evidence. Tommy Ward was one of two men serving a life sentence for the 1984 murder of Denice Haraway in Ada. 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. Raising the same general categories on post-conviction that one raised on direct appeal, even if the basis is different, will result in a procedural bar," according to the state court's opinion. Tommy Ward- The Innocent Man's Legal Team's Page | Ada OK - Facebook The judge also called the evidence against Ward circumstantial and said nearly all of the details in his confession were inaccurate. Fontenot's case was picked up by The Innocence Project in 2011, but there's . Last week, a Pontotoc County District Court judge ordered Tommy Ward be released from prison. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. 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. He often uses his platform to raise awareness for various charitable causes and uses his talents to give back to his community. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. By, 'Deeply tainted': Oklahoma conservatives call for moratorium, abolition of the death penalty, Sheriff, jail health care provider seek public money to increase staff after two women died, AG Drummond orders independent counsel to review Glossip death penalty case, Oklahoma Attorney General requests more time in between executions. An autopsy showed evidence that she had been shot and no sign that she had been stabbed, per The AP. Ward remained in prison while the state appealed the ruling, The Associated Press reported at the time. 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. Courtesy Netflix. Tommy Ward - YouTube Tommy Ward, 61, and Karl Fontenot, 58, were . "They said I had a choice to write it or tape it. The two insisted they were innocent, but still ended up convicted of Haraway's murder. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Both are model prisoners. Haraway had been shot rather than stabbed, was 20 miles away from where the men said her body had been dumped, and she had been wearing different clothes than those Ward and Fontenot described. Evidence presented to exonerate Fontenot had been available since Fontenots trials in the 1980s, the state said, arguing that the high court should accept the caseto clarify that new evidence means newly discovered or newly available evidence as opposed to newly presented evidence.
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