Need Help in Ohio

[Ken]

Here is a message that I have copied from another board. The board that it came from is having a lot - A LOT - of problems right now with hecklers coming on and verbally abusing people. I think that we can help this woman, but I am afraid to invite her here in case the "others" follow and find us...

Can I take back any advice to her? I have asked her to email me privately and then I can relay the information back. Once I trust that she is "safe" I will bring her here, but in the mean time I will just stay in the middle.

Here is her message:

Hello everyone. My name is Michelle and I am currently trying to help a male friend of mine who is currently imprisoned here in Ohio. He was admitted in November of 97 for aggervated murder and given a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Every other person in Ohio that I have researched(where there is a missing body and no weapon or DNA evidence)has gotten shorter sentences with the possibility of parole. I, along with many others, believe he is innocent of this crime...but he has exausted all of his appeals. I would like to know how he can go about getting a new trial or a reduced sentence? It has been very difficult for him. Any advice?????
Thanks for reading Michelle

[torrey]

Fed_X will boot any hecklers to the curb! LOL But I'm sure we all appreciate your thoughtfullness to not to open the door to debauchery and barbarism.

All I can offer as advvvise is question has he really exhausted all appeals. Has this person really gone to the highest door? Don't know about that area but this area the 10th district court there are many appeals to file there.

FYI Barbarian means anyone that is not Roman. LOL

[Budwoman]

TORREY IS RIGHT... HAS HE DONE HIS FEDERAL APPEALS, HABEUS CORPUS ETC. IF NO DNA WAS DONE, IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING WAS NOT COMPLETED AND MAYBE HIS ATTORNEY DID NOT DO A PROPER JOB.... DON'T LEAVE ANY STONE UNTURNED...

BEST WISHES TO HER.

AND THANKS KEN, FOR THE THOUGHT ABOUT HECKLERS... I JUST GOT CALMED DOWN.... LOVE YOU FOR THAT..

DONNA

[Ken]

Hey guys - thanks for this advice so far - I will post it over and then check back to see if anyone else has any words of wisdom?

[KConnor56]

Ken,

Let me look up some lawyers that specialize in helping the wrongly convicted, I think I have this info somewhere, it may take a day or two, I also think Menolly has it too.

The other Ken

[horsegal]

Hey girl, sounds tome like you need a better attorney. Ohio laws are so stupid, trust me I know. Try going to www.lawyers.com Good luck sweetie, I know you'll need it.

[KConnor56]

Ken,

Here is what I have that may help if you want to forward this to her--------Ken

OHIO
Innocence Institute of Western Pennsylvania
Point Park College
Department of Journalism and Mass Communications
201 Wood Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1984


http://www.aidwyc.org/

http://cobalt.colossus.net/actualinn.../building.html

http://www.justicedenied.org/denied.htm

http://www.truthinjustice.org/index.htm

http://justice.policy.net/

http://www.law.washington.edu/ipnw/contact.shtml

http://www.ncip.scu.edu/

http://www.law.wisc.edu/FJR/innocence/index.htm


Centurion Ministries has successfully assisted in the exoneration of wrongfully convicted
inmates throughout the United States. Contact: 221 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08542.
*Only handles cases in which a prisoner has been sentenced to either death or life in prison without parole;
cases in which a prisoner has exhausted most or all appeals; and cases in which a prisoner is claiming
absolute innocence - no self defense or accidental death cases. Be sure to read Excerpts from "Convicting the Innocent", by James McCloskey, Director of Centurion
Ministries, Inc. This is supposed to be a "national project," but if they aren't interested, they may tell you they only consider claims from the East Coast.


National Lawyers Guild has a PRISON LAW PROJECT: Audrey Bomse, (732) 699-0736,
Prisoners Self-Help Legal Clinic, 35 Halsey Street Ste. B, Newark, NJ 07102 -or- Angus Love,101 Woodbine Ave., Narbeth, PA 19072
*members:$10-$40 sliding scale, prisoners $8.00

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), List of Innocence Projects.

Truth in Justice is a non-profit organization working to free wholly innocent men and women convicted of crimes they did not commit, and to prevent wrongful convictions by alerting the public to the vulnerabilities in the US criminal justice system that make these miscarriages possible. Be sure to check out their web site and E-mail. I amattempting to locate a snail mail address for this organization, since inmates generally do not have access to the Internet.

The Men's Defense Association is a very unique site that includes a commentary about why so many innocent men are in prison.


True Justice is a web ring with more than 100 links to various web sites, including resource
dealing with wrongful convictions.

[Ken]

Ken

You are amazing! Thanks so much - I will email this information off right away!

I will come back with any feedback!

Thanks again!

[Menally-Ill]

HEY, Ontario Ken:

I HELPED put this list together! Where's MY credit? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Actually, Calif. Ken and I want to get such clear and succinct lists put together for people desparate for such names and help.

There's also a book your friend needs to read. APRIL CAT will have the name and author, since I sent the book to her. It's about "The Innocence Project" and the author is Barry Schenk, or Shrek or something. (My senile old brain isn't working yet this morn. Need more coffee...)

Also, Ken, I want to thank you for thinking so clearly about the possibilities of new members bringing "disruptive clutter" here. I too think of things like that.

And Calif Ken? Obviously there is need for such lists as we've talked of getting together on, eh?

Love to BOTH Kens, and everyone else too!
Menolly

[Menally-Ill]

Got it!

The book is an $8 paperback, and is jam packed with appendices of info - law cases, stats and pie charts, etc. They talk extensivbely about injustices perpetrated by mistaken witness identifications, missing DNA tests etc.

The book is by Barry C. Scheck (and 2 co-authors) and it is called "ACTUAL INNOCENCE".

Their website is at

<http://www.innocenceproject.org>

Your friend definitely needs to go read this website!

Love,
Menolly

[Ken]

Menolly,

If you had something to do with this then you need to SPEAK UP! I will thank you too if I know! Now I know! Thanks Menolly - you are the best! Thanks again to Ken as well!

I will pass this next bit on - the bit that you just passed on!

Thanks guys!

[38special]

tebkrg,
Have someone find the body, the weapon, and DNA will be produced that will set Michelle's friend free. He must be innocent or the DNA will get him. All I know on the exhausted appeals.
Special investigator can be of use.............38 Special........