Advertisement On Friday, a judge vacated Ward's convictions and sentences, dismissed the charges and . Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. Fontenot was released from prison about one year ago after a federal judge found he also didnt receive a fair trial. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. 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. PublishedDecember 26, 2020 at 10:50 AM CST, KGOU | John Grisham continues to correspond with both men. 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. More to come. But now, Wards release has been blocked by the state Attorney Generals Office. Karl Fontenot, Tommy Ward. 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. In June this year, the US Supreme Court refused to take up the case and to examine the states appeal. Thomas Ward, known to the public as Tommy Ward, was convicted in 1999 of the 1984 murder of Donna Denice Haraway in Ada, Oklahoma. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. Local prosecutors again secured their convictions, based largely on their confessions. She said police and prosecutors withheld evidence that would have assisted Wards defense. Subscribe for the latest music videos, performances, and more!Tommy's new album "From This Moment On" available n. 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 Man'. He is currently serving time at the Dick Conner Correctional Center in Hominy in Oklahoma. Tommy Ward. 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. The two insisted they were innocent, but still ended up convicted of Haraway's murder. sharing the stories, pictures and loves of Oklahomans across our great state. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals has reinstated the murder conviction and life sentence of a man featured in the book and television series The Innocent Man.. 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. Fontenot, 57 and Tommy Ward, 61, were both twice convicted in Haraways murder. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and filming for Halloween Ends to release on October 14, 2022 with! Both have excellent teams of lawyers who continue to work for their release.. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. A state judge overturned Wards conviction in 2020, but the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office has appealed the ruling. Additional reporting by The Associated Press. Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the case. Oklahomas Court of Criminal Appeals, however, argued that the district court had abused its discretion in that instance. Tommy Ward has been in prison for 35 years and was supposed to be released today after a judge dismissed Ward's murder conviction. Ward's newly released EP "From This Moment On," (2022) produced by LeCoq Records, showcases his stunning vocal abilities . 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. Fontenot and Thomas Ward were convicted of killing Ada convenience store clerk Donna Denice Haraway in 1984. 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. Which they did after I taped the statement," Fontenot said almost immediately after his interrogation, as described in Grisham's book. 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. The judge said newly discovered evidence about Fontenot's alibi and other suspects in the murder provided "solid proof" of his probable innocence. The Court of Criminal Appeals ordered Tommy Ward, 60, to remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower courts ruling that he be released. Both are model prisoners. Timmy Ward gamelogs for the 2022 season. mail When you read their briefs, they dont take issue with the fact that this information was withheld from him. 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. 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. However, she would never be seen alive again. 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. "Everything about their confession has been proven wrong by the discovery of the body," attorney Janet Davis noted in the documentary. 19 talking about this. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. 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. To the extent that this could be the next Sinatra of our time." The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. 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. She doesnt believe he could be given a fair trial after more than 30 years. At time of writing, he is still serving his life sentence without the possibility of parole, and is now 54 years old. But the men quickly recanted and have claimed for decades that police coerced them to say they killed Haraway. 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. But one day before Ward's release, a temporary stay,. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. The Innocent Man, released by Netflix in 2018, looked at two murder cases having taken place in Ada in the 1980s, including the one which resulted in Wards conviction. Last week, a Pontotoc County District Court judge ordered Tommy Ward be released from prison. The judge said newly discovered evidence about Fontenots alibi and other suspects in the murder provided solid proof of his probable innocence. Oklahoma Attorney General's Office Appeals Release Of Tommy Ward. Fontenots lawyers at first waived the right to respond to the state, but the Supreme Court then requested a response. 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. Ward has also had a widely celebrated opening act run for comedy legend Louie Anderson during his tenure at the Plaza Hotel. OK man arrested for. The 10th U.S. The newlywed college student worked as a clerk there at night. Barrett noted that the appeals court ordered the lower court to consider an additional claim regarding new evidence discovered in 2019. The. By: Dana Hertneky. Ward's accurate description of the blouse was the only information that he gave that was correct in his confession, Barrett said. 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. "Tommy is the epitome of great music. 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. Fontenot was sentenced to death again but Ward was sentenced to life in prison, according to The Oklahoman. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. A prisoner featured in the Netflix documentary series The Innocent Man has had his murder conviction and life sentence reinstated after previously being granted relief. 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. John 3:16. 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.. 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! 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. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Courtesy. Fontenot's case was picked up by The Innocence Project in 2011, but there's . He reminds me of working with Frank Sinatra in some strange way." Tuesday, July 6th 2021, 11:00 pm. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Ward and Fontenot were sentenced to death on January 21, 1985 after being found guilty of murdering Haraway. Fontenot. In a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project, the author discussed their fates. - BART TORRES, 99.7FM The Highway Vibe. 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 is currently still in prison while the appeals process continues. Since the age of 16, Ward has had the opportunity to work alongside industry veterans and legends. Fontenots and Wards attorneys did not respond to requests for comment. Fight for his release from jail crime Netflix Series was released back in 2018, and temporary. The state also claims witnesses saw men matching Ward and Fontenots descriptions in the convenience store where Haraway worked before she disappeared. We promise to never spam you. 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. Subscribe and Follow on Facebook and YouTube for the latest music. 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. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Oct 28, 2022. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. 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. 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. 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'. Its clear as day.. 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 . Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. 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. Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to receive a fair trial. Ward had told police Haraway, 24, was stabbed and buried, but her skull, found more than a year after her disappearance, showed evidence of a gunshot wound and no evidence of stabbing, according to an autopsy. 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 attorneys claim a trove of hundreds of new documents uncovered in a police storage room back up Fontenots claims of innocence. More to come. Critically acclaimed singer, musician, and entertainer. Newson6.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, So where are the two men now, more than 30 years later? He's very disappointed that he's still in prison for a murder he didn't commit, Ward's attorney, Mark Barrett, said Tuesday. 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. info@tommywardmusic.com | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. Position: WR Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 College: Rutgers Hometown: Canton, PA High School: Canton HS The Oklahoma attorney generals office, which appealed Inges order, declined to comment on Thursdays ruling. 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. 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. Both have excellent teams of lawyers who continue to work for their release." 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. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. Also Read: 'The Innocent Man': Netflix Sets December Launch for Docuseries Based on John Grisham Book. Courtesy Netflix. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. News9.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, Share. We are pressing forward exploring the possibility of going to federal court with additional appeals, Barrett said. 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. His conviction is the subject of the Netflix docu-series "The . It was later upheld when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the state's appeal. 7726 5241 Dial by your location +1 346 248 7799 US Are allowed finish! 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. He is 54 years old and is being held at the at the North Fork Correctional Center in Sayre in Oklahoma. As a nonprofit news organization,The Frontieris funded by tax-deductible donations made by people who support quality journalism. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. The victim, Donna Denice Haraway, disappeared from the McAnally's convenience store in Ada on April 28, 1984. [Warning: Spoilers for "The Innocent Man" ahead!]. Tommy Ward one of the subjects of Netflixs true-crime docuseries The Innocent Man, who was convicted of abduction, rape and the murder of an Oklahoma woman is to be released from prison (where he was sentenced to life) and all charges against him dismissed, Wards legal team announced Saturday. The young woman's disappearance sparked decades of controversy as police scrambled to solve the crime, leading to the convictions of two men: Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot. Donate to The Frontier to support local independent investigative journalism. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. Ward was convicted alongside Karl Fontenot for murdering Donna Harraway in Ada. 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. 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. You can opt-out at any time. Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. 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. 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. Share This is new info, and were trying to figure what this means right now. 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. Tommy Ward has been in prison 35 years for a murder he swears he did not commit. . I didnt even know what the word 'statement' or 'confessing' meant 'til they told me I confessed to it. 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. 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! 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. 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 convictions were based almost entirely on accounts they said they retrieved from dreams. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. The judge also called the evidence against Ward circumstantial and said nearly all of the details in his confession were inaccurate. Denice Haraway of Ada, Oklahoma went in for an ordinary day of work at her convenience store job on April 28, 1984. Want to support our mission to hold powerful people accountable, give a voice to the voiceless, and shine a light on darkness in Oklahoma? 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. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. This is new info, and were trying to figure what this means right now. Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. Fontenot, Wards co-defendant, was ordered released by a federal judge in 2019, and the state is also appealing that order. 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. - QUINCY JONES, 27 time GRAMMY-award-winning producer "A fine singer A lovely, silky voice." In both Ward and Fontenots cases, judges issued rulings excoriating investigators for withholding favorable evidence from defense attorneys. Both Ward and Fontenot would go on to recant their confessions. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. 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. @WardInnocentMan. SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER, FIRST TAKE, 'The Innocent Man': Netflix Sets December Launch for Docuseries Based on John Grisham Book. and his videos on social media have racked up millions of views. An autopsy showed evidence that she had been shot and no sign that she had been stabbed, per The AP. 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.. 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. Ada store clerk Denice Haraway was abducted and killed on April 28, 1984. . Fontenots death sentence was later reduced to life before his conviction was reversed by a federal appeals court. Justices may determine before the courts term ends this summer whether to review the case. Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. In 2020, Fontenot's co-defendant in the case, Tommy Ward, also had his conviction overturned in state court, but prosecutors have appealed that decision to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. "They said I had a choice to write it or tape it. 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.. - STEVE WYNN, founder Wynn Resorts "I just saw Tommy in Las Vegas at a corporate event and I was BLOWN AWAY. I received Christmas cards last week from both Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot, so we keep in touch," Grisham said. Haraways body was located after the convictions.
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