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. Photo: Peter Tobia. Termaine Hicks, 47, on West Girard Avenue in West Philadelphia on Dec. 2, 2022. I was writing Christian plays, engaged in independent study, and searching Scripture. After 19 years in prison, hes been found innocent. We welcome new information from any source about exonerations already on our list and about cases not in the Registry that might be exonerations. During that time, in the fall of 2008, Hicks joined the EfM group. Like the traveler in the parable of the Good Samaritan, the victim had been left beaten, bloody, and half naked. the $9.85 million agreement the city struck in 2018 with Anthony Wright. Wednesday, December 23, 2020, The Front Page Podcast: Pumping the Brakes, NEW: Its not polite to pretend boys can be girls, SCOTUS takes on Bidens student debt agenda. The other guys on the [cell] block were shouting. Hicks has a powerful testimony against corruption in policing and the judicial system, but his heart is formed by mercy as much as the call to justice. He learned a lot about working with people, interpreting the Bible, and communicating faith. Press "Enter" or click on the arrow to show results. Reynolds, a former inmate at Coleman, had hoped to go to trial and help spark prison reform. 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. Termaine Hicks was released from SCI Phoenix Prison Tuesday, Dec.16, 2020 in Collegeville, Penn. For the most accurate data, please search on the Detailed View page. READ MORE: Police shot a Philly man, then accused him of rape. And the gun the officers alleged to have found in his pocket was actually the off-duty weapon of another Philadelphia police officer. Going back to the morning of the crime, the victim was not able to identify her assailant. In 2001, Mr. Hicks came to the aid of a woman screaming in an alley. Vinson has not responded to requests for comment and Zungolo referred questions to John McGrody, vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5. 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. The way that cops approach Black and brown men and women stems from years of systemic racism. But the prosecutors who reworked the case now say at least some of the testimony against Hicks was not true. But, he added: Its unfortunate and sad that it took how long it took for me to clear my name. 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. 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. Today Hicks serves alongside Slichter on the board for the Dennis H. Warner Memorial Foundation, which provides EfM scholarships for inmates and assists family members of the incarcerated. The man they had just shot did not match the description of the attacker provided by a witness, who saw the assailant dragging the victim into an alley. When recovered, the firearm was covered in blood belonging to the victim, who was bleeding profusely when the police arrived at the scene. As he was reaching for his cellphone to dial 911, the police suddenly arrived, shot him in the back and charged him unjustly. Everything slowed down, says Hicks. 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. 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. Termaine Hicks, Shot in the Back by Philadelphia Police, Is The Innocence Project recruited high-profile forensic pathologist Michael Baden to determine the direction from which the bullets were fired at Hicks. During his time in prison he joined the Education for Ministry (EfM) program, wrote plays, and later formed S.T.E.P.U.P. A Pennsylvania court has vacated the rape conviction of Termaine Joseph Hicks, freeing him from prison after almost 19 years. Hicks lawyers alleged that the cover-up went beyond the three officers. That decision comes after an investigation by the Innocence Project and the District Attorneys Conviction Integrity Unit raised serious questions about whether police had fabricated evidence, planted a gun, and arrested Hicks under false pretenses all to conceal a police shooting of an innocent bystander who had rushed to aid a rape victim. The gun was also registered to an active-duty police officer who had not reported it missing. Now, under the scrutiny of a new investigation, the case against Hicks has fallen apart. Watsons role in the case was not clear, and he was not called to testify. Then, Hicks lawyers say, Vinson used his police radio to contact dispatch. Officer Martin Vinson, who testified that he fired because Hicks was reaching for a gun and lunging toward him, and his then-partner Sgt. Prior to our interview, he had just given a talk for the Dutch Consulate at the United Nations in New York City. This is my ministry, he says. Hicks exoneration hinged in part on forensic analysis that cast doubt on his testimony. Thank you for visiting us. What she remembered was that after bright lights appeared, the assault stopped. California residents do not sell my data request. I liked interacting with all of it. Hicks was not eligible for parole because he maintained his innocence and would not express remorse for a crime he did not commit. Termaine Hicks case marks the 16th exoneration since 2018 attributed to the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office Conviction Integrity Unit. Hicks recruited other prisoners to act in the production. Help us advocate for the innocent by sharing the latest news from the Innocence Project. Mr. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Doug Harper at (850) 488 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. He said he was meeting with McGrody, who could answer any further questions. His brother and friend greeted him upon release. 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. Now a free man, Website by MADEO. Mr. 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. 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. [Sewanee School of Theology] It is well known in The Episcopal Church and beyond: Education for Ministry (EfM) changes lives. Report an error or add more information about this case. 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. Hicks said the officer shot him in the back as he was reaching into his pocket for his phone to call 911. Philadelphia officials said Wednesday that the city will be paying out $9.8 million in one of the largest wrongful-conviction settlements in the citys history to a Black man who spent 28 years in prison for a murder the district attorneys Conviction Integrity Unit now says it was near impossible that he committed. Judges denied Hickss requests for a new trial until this year. Many will have a tale of transformation to share. He served 19 years for a wrongful conviction. Hearing a scream pierce the darkness, he ran toward Dunkin Donuts and Saint Agnes Hospital. 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 after a wrongful incarceration for 19 years. Six of the eight accused officers admitted to having sexual contact with inmates, according to a July document filed by the United States in response to the complaint. As he was sentenced, Hicks told the judge: an innocent man cant sit in jail for long. Hicks According to lawyers, it shows a man in a hoodie dragging the victim into the alley. information about the Registry, Assault, Other Violent Felony, Gun Possession or Sale, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense. I was already a devoted Christian, reading my Bible daily. EfM taught me how to open the box, and also how to be diplomatic., He says, EfM was a vessel. Dennis Zungolo testified against him They claim they found him raping a woman in an alley near a hospital and He was exonerated after the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office conceded that lead police officers lied under oath to cover up shooting Hickswho was innocent of any crimein the back three times. Twenty-seven judges had looked at my case by then, explains Hicks. They had stage fright. 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. Hicks served 19 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. He was exonerated after the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office conceded that lead police The training also emphasizes the importance of physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle. Please enable scripts and reload this page. The agreement announced Wednesday is the latest in a string of seven-figure settlements stemming from claims of misconduct by city police in the late 1980s and 90s. 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. 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. This article was published more than2 years ago. In this case, the new evidence came from Hickss clothing and his own body. 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. He was exonerated after 19 years. For 19 years, Termaine Joseph Hicks maintained his innocence. WebHicks Settlement Settled by Tobias Hicks and sons about 1800. After shooting Hicks, Vinson approached and patted him down in search of his weapon. Only after did they realize their mistake Mr. Hicks was not the right person. 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. We must have had 150 people in the audience, both inmates and guests, remembers Slichter. One of the bullets barely missed my spine, but youre talking to a guy who ran a couple of marathons while he was incarcerated., A post shared by Tyron McClendon (@mrgrinch215). WebLiked by Brandon Hicks Attention School of Law alumni: On Wednesday, March 1, Liberty Law will be holding a memorial service for Curtis Walton, who was tragically murdered That video also showed a delivery truck pull into a nearby loading dock, flashing its lights across the alley. He has always maintained that he arrived at the scene when he attempted to help the victim, she said. She assumed the lights were police flashlights, but the enhanced footage suggested the light had instead been the delivery trucks headlights. Hickss case began in the early-morning hours of Nov. 27, 2001, according to a memorandum summarizing the case, as a woman walked to an early shift at Dunkin Donuts. It was a chance for me to try to find out how God operates with us. 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. In the early morning hours of November 27, 2001, Mr. Hicks heard the screams of a woman being raped in an alley in South Philadelphia and went to her aid. The chief medical examiner recanted his prior testimony. Photo: Jason E. Miczek/AP Images for The Innocence Project. He thought about those younger and younger inmates, and knew he needed to get his message to young people before their first encounters with the judicial system. He wrote 12 plays and musicals while in prison and, now that hes free, he hopes to eventually produce and direct plays. We empower youth to use their voice to prevent bullying and violence, says Hicks about his presentations at schools. They greeted me with such unexpected affection. The United States has settled a lawsuit with 15 women who said correctional officers at a federal prison in Florida repeatedly sexually abused them. The Innocence Project, which is affiliated with the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, took on Mr. Hicks case in 2011. Termaine Joseph Hicks exonerated after 19 years in prison - Inquirer Police claimed that Mr. Hicks had a gun on him as part of their effort to cover up the circumstances of the shooting, but the weapon that was attributed to Mr. Hicks was registered to an active Philadelphia police officer. The officer had not reported the gun missing. She assumed those were police spotlights. 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. Its unfortunate and sad that it took how long it took for me to clear my name.. Mr. Hicks was exonerated after the Philadelphia Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU), led by Patricia Cummings, joined the Innocence Projects motion to vacate his conviction. Upon entering prison, Hicks was forced to separate from his son, who was only 5 years old at the time of his sentencing. A spokesperson for the District Attorneys Office declined to comment if it would pursue action against the officers. Police shot a Philly man, then accused him of rape. Im a playwright, Hicks says. A reporter at the Inquirer since 2013, I cover issues of identity, race, social justice, as well as prisons and the legal system. Sometimes it comes out in the spiritual autobiography, but we dont ask. 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. WebTermaine Hicks is an exoneree and IP client. There were moments, but I did not give up, he said. Within 30 days of surrendering his appellate rights, Hicks was contacted by the Innocence Project. Deep-seated police misconduct and institutional protections are too often the source of wrongful convictions and injustice in the system. 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. A reporter at the Inquirer since 2013, I cover issues of identity, race, social justice, as well as prisons and the legal system. 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. Most of the more than 120,000 people who have participated in the four-year theological education program will agree. Website by MADEO. 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. Hicks calls the Innocence Project team relentless, God-sent, true advocates. Still, it would take nearly another decade to set Hicks free. 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. 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. Hicks was convicted of rape and weapons offenses, with 20 officers testifying against him. A woman had been pistol-whipped, dragged into an alleyway behind what was then St. Agnes Hospital in South Philadelphia, and raped until the rapist was startled and fled the scene. Determined to make my dreams come true 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. We need a whole new system.. The latest Tweets from Termaine Hicks (@TermaineHicks). Video footage showing the actual assailant dragging the woman into seclusion was never shown to jurors and soon disappeared from evidence. The tape showed a man in a gray hoodie dragging the victim into the alley. At the time of his arrest, Hicks was an assistant manager at a South Philadelphia Popeyes, raising a 5-year-old son. When Hicks nudged her, she did not move. Now, he hopes to produce work for the wider community, including a play about his own life and performances inspired by the oldheads who shared their wisdom over decades in prison. Tell Hicks was released from a state prison outside Philadelphia on Wednesday. You can learn more about how we consider cases here. A police spokesperson said that the district attorney did not provide details on the allegations until after Hicks case was resolved. However, the recent assessments by both the chief medical examiner for the City of Philadelphia and an independent medical examiner concluded that Mr. Hicks was shot from behind meaning he wasnt coming toward the officers when he was shot. Termaine Hicks walked out of Pennsylvania prison SCI Phoenix last week. Help us advocate for the innocent by sharing the latest news from the Innocence Project. In addition to the Innocence Project, Mr. Hicks is represented by local counsel Susan Lin of Kairys, Rudovsky, Messing, Feinberg & Lin LLP. Through all the years of trials and incarceration, Hicks never lost faith. Seeing so many inmates broken by the prison system, Hicks determined he would find his strength in God. WebOn February 27, 2003, Hicks was sentenced to between 12 and 25 years in prison. 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. Press "Enter" or click on the arrow to show results. There was irrefutable evidence that Chester was innocent, is innocent and has always been innocent and would never have been wrongfully convicted aside from extraordinary police misconduct, Green said. Witnesses also testified that they had seen a man in a gray hoodie attack the woman, according to court records. 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. 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. 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. Hicks case is yet another example of the pervasive problem of police perjury in the criminal legal system. CIU chief Patricia Cummings said her office would not retry the case, as it was tainted beyond repair. Group showed footage of fatal Breonna Taylor raid at restaurant event, dine BLM co-founders cousin dies after police repeatedly use Taser, video shows, Bidens marijuana policy may change attitudes toward immigrants. William Campbell, S.J. They instead retired or resigned, and some still receive benefits from their federal employment. What we are doing is just reintroducing simple life decision-making, Hicks explains. Vaccines dont work, masks dont work: Everything government told us about COVID-19 was wrong. A spokesperson for the Philadelphia Police Department had not provided a comment as of Wednesday afternoon. 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. 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. All three shots struck Hicks from behind, yet Vinson said he was forced to fire because Hicks was lunging at him. Vinson and Zungolo still work for the Philadelphia police, the Inquirer reported. The Innocence Project is affiliated with Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University. He said: I tried to get the male to, uh, you know, put his hands where I could see them, and he was reaching for something and I couldnt see it.. Heres what that means. The lawsuit contended that Bureau of Prisons officers at Federal Correctional Complex Coleman in Sumter County sexually abused female inmates for years and threatened the women if they didnt comply. Termaine Hicks was released from SCI Phoenix Prison on Dec. 16, 2020, in Collegeville, Penn. Reynolds said she was raped by a correctional officer at Coleman for six months while serving time there. Framed for rape in 2001 at the age of 26, Hicks was falsely incarcerated for nearly two decades. Latino leaders could collaborate with Black communities. 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. But this settlement closes out a difficult chapter in my life as my family and I now embark on a new one.. 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. Police disciplinary records are currently kept confidential in nearly half of states, including Pennsylvania. 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. Philadelphia police officer Marvin Vinson arrived on the scene with his partner, Sgt. He purchased land and other AA's settled near him. A spokesperson for the District Attorneys Office declined to comment on whether it would pursue action against the officers. He said come sit, check it out. Hicks went to one session as a guest and was intrigued by the concept. Settlements for some of the women, some whom are currently still incarcerated there, were higher than the government had initially allocated to pay. Mr. Hicks, an Innocence Project client, was wrongly convicted of a rape that took place in Philadelphia in 2001. Hicks case is yet another example of the pervasive problem of police perjury in the criminal legal system. Joe Rojas, the southeast regional vice president for the workers union, AFGE Council of Prisons, said the case was a black eye for an otherwise hardworking and upright staff. 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.. Vinson testified that he fired because Hicks reached for a gun and lunged at him and his then-partner Zungolo testified he saw Hicks pulling up his pants when police arrived. Dennis Zungolo have been placed on restricted duty and the identity of the third officer has not been released. Both sides said it did not follow that the gun was smeared in blood, while the interior of the pocket it supposedly came from was pristine. Reached by phone Tuesday, Ellis, a crime-scene-unit officer, declined to comment or to confirm he was under investigation. December can be a busy month for exonerations, as prosecutors and defense attorneys try to wrap up cases before the end of the year. Baden testified that all shots were fired from behind Hicks, so he could not have been lunging at the officer who pulled the trigger. 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. The United States has settled a lawsuit with 15 women who said correctional officers at a federal prison in Florida repeatedly sexually abused them. He said he felt the amount given to his clients was fair. 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. Mr. Hicks, an Innocence Project client, was wrongly convicted of a rape that took place in Philadelphia in 2001. The things that are promised to citizens should be delivered: a fair trial, and a fair look at whats being presented.. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. From behind, yet Vinson said he was forced to fire because termaine hicks settlement... List and about cases not in the back as he was under.! Has always maintained that he arrived at the scene with his partner, Sgt sentenced to between 12 and years! 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