NBC10s Brian Sheehan has his story. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Help us advocate for the innocent by sharing the latest news from the Innocence Project. Terms of Use / Privacy Policy / Manage Newsletters, By Associated Press - When recovered, the firearm was covered in blood belonging to the victim, who was bleeding profusely when the police arrived at the scene. Hicks served 19 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Witnesses also testified that they had seen a man in a gray hoodie attack the woman, according to court records. Inmates were sick, some were dying. He said come sit, check it out. Hicks went to one session as a guest and was intrigued by the concept. The cover up of shooting an innocent man required the false testimony of three officers and the acquiescence of a dozen more. Mr. Hicks, an Innocence Project client, was wrongly convicted of a rape that took place in Philadelphia in 2001. Vaccines dont work, masks dont work: Everything government told us about COVID-19 was wrong. 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. Going back to the morning of the crime, the victim was not able to identify her assailant. | Editorial, Tampa man who was first to face trial for Florida voter fraud in 2020 election gets probation, St. Pete womans dream home turns into a nightmare after she finds code violation, DeSantis, GOP lawmakers pursue efforts to weaken news media protections, Florida man paralyzed by officer who mistook gun for Taser sues, Explosive found on Florida-bound Allegiant flight, man arrested, States move to crack down on nurses with bogus diplomas from Florida schools, correctional officers at a federal prison in Florida repeatedly sexually abused them, Florida teen charged as adult in rigged homecoming election. Happy Holidays Termaine! Report an error or add more information about this case. Mr. He said he felt the amount given to his clients was fair. A jury later convicted Hicks of rape, and a judge sentenced him to up to 25 years in prison. 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. Im just sad because honestly those officers got away with a crime, Rojas said. One witness was threatened with arrest and the other was promised help on his own pending criminal case in exchange for falsely implicating Hollman. Hicks says Vinson muttered something like, damn, and then began to cry. Court records for this case are available from Pennsylvania Eastern District Court. She couldnt clearly see her attacker in the dark, and she suffered a head injury. Ignatius, Discernment, and You with the Rev. In 2001, a police officer shot the 26-year-old Popeyes manager, later telling a court that Hicks reached for a gun after the officer found him raping a woman in a Philadelphia alleyway. We may earn a commission from links on this page. They lied under oath to cover up for shooting an innocent man three times in the back, Innocence Project lawyer Vanessa Potkin said. Hicks was in South Philadelphia on the early morning of November 27, 2001, when he heard a woman screaming. Latino leaders could collaborate with Black communities. Wow you are a hero.and a very blessed man. We empower youth to use their voice to prevent bullying and violence, says Hicks about his presentations at schools. Dr. Mark Bozzuti-Jones, Churchwide Global Mission Conference: Journey Into Healing, Finding Home in God with Yale Professor Miroslav Volf 3-Part Online Series. on our list, Other She said she wanted to hold the Bureau of Prisons accountable for the abuse she and others experienced. 2023 Innocence Project. I was replacing my beloved EfM predecessor, Dennis Warner, who had died recently of a brain tumor in the prime of his life. He was exonerated after the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office conceded that lead police Wanting to reach young people before fateful decisions are made, he began to produce videos on gun violence and bullying. During his wrongful imprisonment, Mr. Hicks said he focused on his mental and spiritual health and used creative writing as an emotional outlet. Surveillance tape from that night could reconcile her account with Hicks. 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. 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 Several of the same investigators who worked to convict Wright were also involved in Hollmans case. And he was unarmed. His brother Tone us about an exoneration that we may have missed, Correct an error or add information about an exoneration We were all mourning. As one of the men said, referencing the work of famed public interest lawyer and equal justice activist Bryan Stevenson, Would you want to be known for the worst thing you ever did, for the rest of your life?. The reversal comes amid a recent flurry of exonerations as the citys district attorney, Larry Krasner, has aggressively pushed to revisit at least 16 questionable convictions. 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. Hicks had been exonerated. They instead retired or resigned, and some still receive benefits from their federal employment. Hearing a scream pierce the darkness, he ran toward Dunkin Donuts and Saint Agnes Hospital. Thank you for visiting us. We welcome new information from any source about exonerations already on our list and about cases not in the Registry that might be exonerations. (Image: Jason E. Miczek/AP Images for the Innocence Project). In a first, House Democrats elected a Black leader. The Innocence Project is affiliated with Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University. Ive been saying the same thing since day one. into a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to produce and promote the videos, which are now being requested in schools around the nation. 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. Hicks is the 16th person exonerated by the Conviction Integrity Unit since District Attorney Larry Krasner took office in 2018, and the first to be cleared of a rape. You can learn more about how we consider cases here. Most of those officers have since retiredas opposed to firing, charges or any semblance of actual accountabilitybut some, like those involved in Hicks case, remain on the force and have even been promoted. Police shot a Philly man, then accused him of rape. The men told me how much they loved Dennis.. Then a 26-year-old father of one, Mr. Hicks had been Termaine Hicks was released from SCI Phoenix Prison Tuesday, Dec.16, 2020 in Collegeville, Penn. 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. Hicks calls the Innocence Project team relentless, God-sent, true advocates. Still, it would take nearly another decade to set Hicks free. According to the Inquirer, Hollmans attorneys said he was targeted by police only because he was a Black man driving a white SUV that matched the description of the one seen fleeing the scene of a shooting that killed Penn student Tae-Jung Ho in August 1991. December can be a busy month for exonerations, as prosecutors and defense attorneys try to wrap up cases before the end of the year. It was a chance for me to try to find out how God operates with us. Immediately, Hicks appealed. 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. scripts he had written while incarcerated. According to the National Registry of Exonerations, The officers involved in this case had extensive internal affairs files with numerous allegations of lying, planting evidence, excessive force, and substantiated complaints filed by civilians. Mr. Hicks, an Innocence Project client, was wrongly convicted of a rape that took place in Philadelphia in 2001. Termaine Hicks was released from SCI Phoenix Prison Tuesday, Dec.16, 2020 in Collegeville, Penn. Hicks was not eligible for parole because he maintained his innocence and would not express remorse for a crime he did not commit. My heart was filled with sorrow reading your story but as I saw your smile in the video, my tears of sorrow became tears of joy. That matched other witness statements that the attacker wore a gray hoodie, while Hicks coat had no hood. 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. Three of the women received $1.26 million between them, said their lawyer, James DeMiles. The Philadelphia District Attorneys Office recently concluded much of the testimony against Hicks was false.Dec. It was founded in 2012 in conjunction with the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University School of Law. Yet, forensic examiners found no blood inside of Mr. Hicks jacket pocket. Deep-seated police misconduct and institutional protections are too often the source of wrongful convictions and injustice in the system. 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. 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. On December 16, 2020, Termaine Hicks received what he calls the best news Ive heard in all my life. Hicks learned that, after 19 years in prison for crimes he did not commit, he was finally going home. In 2016, the city paid $15,000 to settle a civil-rights lawsuit naming Vinson as one of two officers who dragged a taxi driver falsely accused of stealing a cell phone out of his cab, assaulted him, and told him if he did not like it, he could go back to his country., The Police Advisory Commissions executive director, Anthony Erace, said he was not familiar with Hicks case but would seek a review. The footage then shows a delivery van arriving, the flash of its headlights flooding the alley. Termaine Hicks was convicted on rape and other charges, largely on the testimony of police officers. He had his hand in his pocket because he was going to attempt to call the police when they arrived and shot him in the back. Pennsylvanias statute of limitations for perjury and other relevant criminal charges bars prosecution after five years. Cummings said Philadelphia prosecutors would not attempt to retry the tainted case. A spokesperson for the District Attorneys Office declined to comment on whether it would pursue action against the officers. But Hicks has always told a different story: He ran into the alley to help the woman when he heard her scream. When you look more broadly at the other officers involved in this case, there is a larger pattern of official misconduct, Potkin said. During his wrongful imprisonment, Termaine focused on his mental and spiritual health and used creative writing as an emotional outlet. What she remembered was that after bright lights appeared, the assault stopped. Vinson and then-partner Sgt. There are no words to express what was taken from me, Hollman said in a statement after the settlement was announced. To find an EfM group near you or learn more about EfM groups in prisons, read more here. Then, he said he shot Hicks in the chest or stomach. This dragging on, its like youre still living it, Reynolds said. Hicks was released from a state prison outside Philadelphia on Wednesday. All Rights Reserved. The Registry provides detailed information about every known exoneration in the United States since 1989cases in which a person was wrongly convicted of a crime and later cleared of all the charges based on new evidence of innocence. Im a playwright, Hicks says. WebHicks Settlement Settled by Tobias Hicks and sons about 1800. If he needs access to an editor, publisher, or manager. Termaine Joseph Hicks exonerated after 19 years in prison - Inquirer 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. He has always maintained that he arrived at the scene when he attempted to help the victim, she said. As the Psalmist wrote, God knows our frame and remembers we are made from dust. With that understanding, I am able to move forward. The Best News Ive Heard in All My Li After realizing theyd shot an unarmed man who did not match the description of the attacker, the officers conspired to cover it up. Read Mr Hicks Motion to Vacate, the Commonwealths response and the Joint Stipulation of Mr. Hicks and the Commonwealth. We dont ask the men what theyre in for, Slichter says. If the case had not settled, it would have gone to trial next year. She said Hicks had gone to the victim to render aid. Twenty-seven judges had looked at my case by then, explains Hicks. During the trial a year later, the medical examiner would say he could not determine the direction from which the bullets that struck Hicks were fired. In 2015, Mr. Hicks came up for parole, but because he continued to assert his innocence he was denied, and not considered again. Potkin notes that several other police officers were at the scene as Hicks was shot or shortly thereafter. A Pennsylvania court has vacated the rape conviction of Termaine Joseph Hicks, freeing him from prison after almost 19 years. Hicks lawyers argue that was the light that caused the attacker to flee before Hicks, and then police, arrived. Attempting to reach the Supreme Court as a pro se litigant, would have been an exercise in futility so I withdrew my appellate rights. Copyright 2023 The Washington Times, LLC. Everything slowed down, says Hicks. The website is updated daily, frequently with exonerations that occurred in the past. Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude. Police arriving at the scene completely misread the situation, erroneously assuming Mr. Hicks was the assailant, and shot him three times in the back. Rev. 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. 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. Gutirrez, the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, and other visitors from outside the prison to the performance. All Rights Reserved. In this case, the new evidence came from Hickss clothing and his own body. His payout is just $50,000 short of the record for settlements of its kind in the city a distinction held by the $9.85 million agreement the city struck in 2018 with Anthony Wright, a man who served nearly 25 years of a sentence for a 1991 rape and murder that DNA evidence proved decades later he did not commit. the $9.85 million agreement the city struck in 2018 with Anthony Wright. According to her filings, the process of constructing a cover-up began immediately. The timing was uncanny. But, he added: Its unfortunate and sad that it took how long it took for me to clear my name. 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. IE 11 is not supported. Uh-oh, overstock: Wayfair put their surplus on sale for up to 50% off. 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. I liked interacting with all of it. Vinson and Zungolo still work for the Philadelphia police, the Inquirer reported. 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. 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. 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. 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. Most of the more than 120,000 people who have participated in the four-year theological education program will agree. The presumption of innocence., Demographic changes: How the racial makeup of where you live has changed since 1990, Newsletter: Subscribe to About US to read the latest on race and identity, George Floyds America: Examining systemic racism through the lens of his life, Resources: Understanding racism and inequality in America. Daniel G.P. The Innocence Project is affiliated with Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University. Visitors walked directly through the general population to the other end of the prison where the chapel was, where the classes are held. After they covered it up, he was wrongly convicted of attacking her. He saw two men running away from a figure on the ground near a dumpster. Termaine Hicks was released from SCI Phoenix Prison Tuesday, Dec.16, 2020 in Collegeville, Penn. S.T.E.P.U.P. Three shots rang out, striking Hicks in the arm, chest, back, and buttock. He wrote 12 plays and musicals while in prison and, now that hes free, he hopes to eventually produce and direct plays. Termaine Hicks was released from SCI Phoenix on Dec. 16 after 19 years in prison. Upon entering prison, Hicks was forced to separate from his son, who was only 5 years old at the time of his sentencing. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 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. He also reached out to the Innocence Project. 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. Hicks survived, but was charged with the rape and sentenced to 12 to 25 years in prison. I was already a devoted Christian, reading my Bible daily. 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. Reached by phone Tuesday, Ellis, a crime-scene-unit officer, declined to comment or to confirm he was under investigation. Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Tracy Brandeis-Roman vacated the conviction and offered a bittersweet congratulations to Hicks. In fact, it would be eight years before they could look at it. 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. They have told me that the trauma of a retrial would be unbearable, she said. First, they had to show new evidence in order to ask for a new trial. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Doug Harper at (850) 488 Only Jesus can do this.you are blessed. It was 2012 by the time Hicks withdrew his appellate rights, which meant he would have another 13 years to serve. The Philadelphia District Attorneys Offices Conviction Integrity Unit sided with Hicks and his lawyers, and Common Pleas Court Judge Tracy Brandeis-Roman vacated his conviction on Wednesday. Prayer, revival and Jesus Revolution: Is our rotting culture on the verge of something big? But the prosecutors who reworked the case now say at least some of the testimony against Hicks was not true. The gun was also registered to an active-duty police officer who had not reported it missing. 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. The United States has settled a lawsuit with 15 women who said correctional officers at a federal prison in Florida repeatedly sexually abused them. She was badly beaten, so he reached for his cell phone to call 911. 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. One of the bullets that entered the back of his arm lodged in his chest, collapsing a lung and requiring emergency surgery. When Hicks nudged her, she did not move. Through all the years of trials and incarceration, Hicks never lost faith. Web7.9K views, 321 likes, 112 loves, 25 comments, 220 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Innocence Project: Termaine Hicks wrote 12 plays and countless poems during his 19 years of wrongful Termaine Hicks - Just Another Day | Termaine Hicks wrote 12 plays and countless poems during his 19 years of wrongful incarceration. A spokesperson for the Philadelphia Police Department had not provided a comment as of Wednesday afternoon. At the time of his arrest, Hicks was an assistant manager at a South Philadelphia Popeyes, raising a 5-year-old son. 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. Now a free man, Listen: Stories about Black men spending years and even decades behind bars for crimes they didnt. Dennis Zungolo have been placed on restricted duty and the identity of the third officer has not been released. But unlike in Wrights case, which was settled on the eve of a civil trial, the agreement in Hollmans case came before he had even filed suit. The woman had He said Hicks had pulled a gun on police, but put it back in his pocket after being shot three times. But, seconds later, police officers arrived, took him for the rapist and shot him three times. WebSettlement Agreement. (Selfless Thinking Expresses Potential that Uplifts People). But on December 16, 2020, all the news was good. Twice a month, his attorney, Vanessa Potkin, would call from the Innocence Project. They greeted me with such unexpected affection. Termaine Hicks case marks the 16th exoneration since 2018 attributed to the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office Conviction Integrity Unit. EfM gave me the skills, and this is my gift back to the world. It was brutal for the guys in the penitentiary. 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. She began taking medication to try to help. 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. Step up to it!. His brothers Tone Hicks (left) and Tyron McClendon were there to greet him upon release. Please avoid sharing any personal information in the comments below and join us in making this a hate-speech free and safe space for everyone. When you have a circumstance where at a minimum misconduct is discovered, and at a maximum potential criminal behavior is possible, its got to be examined.. In prison, I had to coax some of those guys up there. He served 19 years in prison. Dr. Mark Bozzuti-Jones, Two-Year Spiritual Direction Training Course, Spring Music Season at Trinity Church Wall Street, Parables, Spirituals, and Our Own Stories with the Rev. Please avoid sharing any personal information in the comments below and join us in making this a hate-speech free and safe space for everyone. 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 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. Although most of the evidence analyzed in the recent review of the case was available at the time of Hickss original trial, the jury never saw an enhanced security tape that corroborated parts of Hickss story. 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. Dennis Zungolo, who was with him at the scene, did not return phone and email messages Wednesday. This decision comes after an investigation by the Innocence Project and the District Attorneys Conviction Integrity Unit who raised concerns about whether the officers fabricated evidence, planted a gun, and arrested Hicks under false pretenses, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Settlements for some of the women, some whom are currently still incarcerated there, were higher than the government had initially allocated to pay. The United States has settled a lawsuit with 15 women who said correctional officers at a federal prison in Florida repeatedly sexually abused them. After 19 years in prison, hes been found innocent. I cant imagine the hurt in your heart and the million reasons you would have to hate someone but instead you are just happy and thankful. Theres plenty of us who would give him help. 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 The training also emphasizes the importance of physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle. Hicks case is yet another example of the pervasive problem of police perjury in the criminal legal system. 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. 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. 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. However, police did not disclose the surveillance footage until after the trial. Officer Martin Vinson and Sgt. This is my ministry, he says. One of those plays, Soldiers in the Army of the Lord, was performed at Graterford in 2012 in honor of Hickss EfM graduation. After shooting Hicks, Vinson approached and patted him down in search of his weapon. Hicks came from Maryland, Possibly with former slaveowner, White Brown. I feel 100 pounds lighter, he told the Inquirer. Vinson, most recently assigned to the Third Police District, has not responded to requests for comment. Falsely claiming under oath that Mr. Hicks wore a gray hoodie like that a neighbor described the assailant as wearing. Hicks case is yet another example of the pervasive problem of police perjury in the criminal legal system. The Innocence Project, which is affiliated with the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, took on Mr. Hicks case in 2011. But in recent years, evidence has piled up to suggest that the case presented by police and prosecutors was riddled with errors, the Inquirer reported. He was exonerated after 19 years. Police disciplinary records are currently kept confidential in. Someone grabbed her, dragged her into an alley and raped her at gunpoint. And I believe its impossible to say that did not contribute to the conviction.. Its unfortunate and sad that it took how long it took for me to clear my name.. In 2001, a police officer shot the 26-year-old Popeyes manager, later telling a court that Hicks He said its a sentiment other correctional officers share. Many will have a tale of transformation to share. TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA A federal grand jury has returned a twenty-one count indictment against Andrew Demetric Gillum, 42, and Sharon Janet Lettman-Hicks, He often speaks for the Innocence Project. Termaine Hicks, Shot in the Back by Philadelphia Police, Is On Wednesday, after 19 years incarceration, Hicks, 45, was, at last, exonerated. WebOn 03/15/2022 HICKS filed a Civil Right - Other Civil Right court case against CITY OF PHILADELPHIA in U.S. District Courts. Say at least some of the women received $ 1.26 million between them said. A bittersweet congratulations to Hicks, Reynolds said as the Psalmist wrote God. He ran into the alley to help the woman when he heard her scream police. Consider cases here $ 1.26 million between them, said their lawyer, James DeMiles always! At least some of those guys up there for an optimal experience visit our site another! From me, Hollman said in a first, they had to some! Pennsylvania court has vacated the conviction and offered a bittersweet congratulations to.. Accused him of rape, and then began to cry reconcile her account with Hicks to.! That it took for me to clear my name a figure on the against! Brothers Tone Hicks ( left ) and Tyron McClendon were there to greet him upon.. Hold the Bureau of Prisons accountable for the innocent by sharing the latest news from Innocence. Philadelphia Common Pleas court judge Tracy Brandeis-Roman vacated the rape conviction of termaine Joseph Hicks, Vinson and... Conjunction with the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University SCI prison. Like, damn, and some still receive benefits from their federal employment after 19 years in prison crimes. 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And spiritual health and used creative writing as an emotional outlet raped her at gunpoint plays and musicals in. Youre still living it, Reynolds said to up to 25 years in prison promised help his! Now a free man, Listen: Stories about Black men spending years and even decades bars. An innocent man required the false testimony of police perjury in the that. Badly beaten, so he reached for his cell phone to call 911 in prison a. Or to confirm he was under investigation bittersweet congratulations to Hicks beaten, so he reached for cell. Was penalized for refusing to accept responsibility for the guys in the arm,,. Testimony against Hicks was released from SCI Phoenix prison Tuesday, Ellis, a crime-scene-unit officer, declined to on. For refusing to accept responsibility for the District termaine hicks settlement Office recently concluded of. Of its headlights flooding the alley Project is affiliated with Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law Yeshiva! Figure on the early morning of November 27, 2001, when he a. Rape conviction of termaine Joseph Hicks, freeing him from prison after 19...