mail At only 25 years old, he has already made a name for himself in the entertainment industry, and his videos on social media have racked up millions of views. 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. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. 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'. About Tommy Ward I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. Tommy Ward was scheduled to be released in December 2020, but . Denice Haraway of Ada, Oklahoma went in for an ordinary day of work at her convenience store job on April 28, 1984. Tuesday, July 6th 2021, 11:00 pm. Ward's case was the focus of the Netflix documentary "The Innocent Man, " which was released in 2018. Ward has also had a widely celebrated opening act run for comedy legend Louie Anderson during his tenure at the Plaza Hotel. 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.. 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. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. The Oklahoma attorney generals office, which appealed Inges order, declined to comment on Thursdays ruling. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His In her 2020 ruling vacating Wards conviction, Judge Inge pointed to what she said were issues with the evidence in the case, and deemed that due to the passage of time, Ward would not be able to receive a fair trial. 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. Ward remained in prison while the state appealed the ruling, The Associated Press reported at the time. They cant. More to come. Fontenot was released in December 2019 at the age of 55 after a federal judge ordered he be released or retried. - STEVE WYNN, founder Wynn Resorts "I just saw Tommy in Las Vegas at a corporate event and I was BLOWN AWAY. A federal judge in Muskogee overturned Fontenot's conviction in late 2019. U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear 'Innocent Man' case Tommy Ward was one of two men serving a life sentence for the 1984 murder of Denice Haraway in Ada. 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. 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. Tommy Ward has been in prison 35 years for a murder he swears he did not commit. As a nonprofit news organization,The Frontieris funded by tax-deductible donations made by people who support quality journalism. 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. Fontenot and Thomas Ward were convicted of killing Ada convenience store clerk Donna Denice Haraway in 1984. Fontenot is currently awaiting the results of a federal appeal. 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. Donate to The Frontier to support local independent investigative journalism. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday reinstated Tommy Ward's murder conviction in an infamous 1984 case out of Ada. 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. The Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. She doesnt believe he could be given a fair trial after more than 30 years. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. sharing the stories, pictures and loves of Oklahomans across our great state. An Oklahoma judge ruled that the case rested on circumstantial evidence. Judge orders release or new trial for 'Innocent Man' defendant Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal . He often uses his platform to raise awareness for various charitable causes and uses his talents to give back to his community. Wards and Fontenots convictions were featured in the John Grisham 2006 book The Innocent Man and a 2018 Netflix series of the same name, as well as the 1987 book Dreams of Ada by Robert Mayer. 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. Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. Fontenots lawyers at first waived the right to respond to the state, but the Supreme Court then requested a response. 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.. It also accounts the false convictions of Ward and Karl Fontenot for themurder of Denice Haraway and the false conviction of Greg Wilhoit for the rape and murder of his estranged wife. sharing the stories, pictures and loves of Oklahomans across our great state. have asked the court of appeals . But now, Wards release has been blocked by the state Attorney Generals Office. 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. "Everything about their confession has been proven wrong by the discovery of the body," attorney Janet Davis noted in the documentary. The ruling, dated Friday, said the withheld evidence, which included witness interviews and police reports, had been available to Ward's defense since 2003 and was not included in Ward's direct appeal after his 1999 conviction. Ward was featured in the Netflix. Oklahoma Attorney General responds to innocence claims by 'Innocent Man Share. Both have excellent teams of lawyers who continue to work for their release.. This is new info, and were trying to figure what this means right now. ADVERTISEMENT Both are model prisoners. She decided to vacate Wards conviction and life sentence, and ordered his release. Oklahoma court reinstates murder conviction of Tommy Ward Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to receive a fair trial. In 2020, District Judge Paula Inge vacated his conviction, dismissed the charges against him, and ordered him set free. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. . Tommy Ward, 61, and Karl Fontenot, 58, were . The convictions were based almost entirely on accounts they said they retrieved from dreams. 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. The investigators seem to have taken on the role of prosecutor, judge and jury, determining that the only relevant evidence was evidence that fit their theory of the case.. You can opt-out at any time. Justices should reject the states request to review the case because the evidence in this case qualifies as new evidence of actual innocence under any definition of new evidence, Fontenots lawyers argued. Subscribe for the latest music videos, performances, and more!Tommy's new album "From This Moment On" available n. At time of writing, he is still serving his life sentence without the possibility of parole, and is now 54 years old. Critically acclaimed singer, musician, and entertainer. 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. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. The attorneys claim a trove of hundreds of new documents uncovered in a police storage room back up Fontenots claims of innocence. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna "Denice" Haraway. Tommy Ward - Official Site The most recent exculpatory disclosure came in 2019, 31 years after Fontenots conviction.. Local prosecutors again secured their convictions, based largely on their confessions. 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. I didnt even know what the word 'statement' or 'confessing' meant 'til they told me I confessed to it. Fontenot, 57 and Tommy Ward, 61, were both twice convicted in Haraways murder. This is new info, and were trying to figure what this means right now. Fontenot has been released pending a decision from the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Instead, she had died from a gunshot wound. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. PublishedDecember 26, 2020 at 10:50 AM CST, KGOU | Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Shot by Shot: Tracking Oklahoma police shootings in 2023, Listen Frontier: Sen. James Lankford speaks with The Frontier about abortion, immigration and more, Frontier content sharing and collaboration terms. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna Denice Haraway. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. The judge also called the evidence against Ward circumstantial and said nearly all of the details in his confession were inaccurate. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. The Oklahoma Innocence Project, an organization that helps to exonerate those wrongfully convicted, attempted to take on Fontenot's case in 2013, but itsappeals were denied in 2015. Since the age of 16, Ward has had the opportunity to work alongside industry veterans and legends. Subscribe for the latest music videos, performances, and more!Tommy's new album "From This Moment On" available n. Please refer to our. John 3:16. The order is the latest in a string of decisions rebuking the convictions of Ward and Karl Fontenot for an infamous 1984 murder documented in two books and a recent Netflix documentary. Want to support our mission to hold powerful people accountable, give a voice to the voiceless, and shine a light on darkness in Oklahoma? Ward is currently still in prison while the appeals process continues. I received Christmas cards last week from both Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot, so we keep in touch," Grisham said. An autopsy showed evidence that she had been shot and no sign that she had been stabbed, per The AP. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Prisoner seen in Netflixs The Innocent Man has conviction reinstated, refused to take up the case and to examine the states appeal, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off & extra perks with Booking.com Genius Membership, 50 cash with friend referrals at Virgin Mobile, 15% off extra plans with this Vodafone promo, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK March 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this March, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. 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. It was later upheld when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the state's appeal. Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. Karl Fontenot, Tommy Ward. More to come. Tweet Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the case. 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. 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.. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Ward and Fontenot were both granted a retrial a few years later, and again found guilty of Haraway's death. Courtesy. 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. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. He reminds me of working with Frank Sinatra in some strange way." Oklahoma Attorney General's Office Appeals Release Of Tommy Ward The 10th U.S. That evidence includes previously undisclosed suspects and whether police provided Ward with information about the victim's blouse, which prosecutors said he had described. The tribulations faced by the pair are depicted in Netflix's latest true crime docu-series, "The Innocent Man," based on the John Grisham book of the same name. 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'. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and filming for Halloween Ends to release on October 14, 2022 with! Ward is a hardworking and dedicated artist who continues to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry. YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. Ward's attorney, Mark Barrett, will also be filing an appeal for exoneration. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. By: Dana Hertneky. Appears the state will retry Karl Fontenot, who was released 2 years ago and subject of #netflix special. Fontenot, Wards co-defendant, was ordered released by a federal judge in 2019, and the state is also appealing that order. 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. The. 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 judge found Tommy Ward didnt get a fair trial. 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. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Fontenots and Wards attorneys did not respond to requests for comment. A state judge overturned Wards conviction in 2020, but the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office has appealed the ruling. The convictions of Ward and Fontenot have come under intense scrutiny for years and have been the subject of numerous books, including John Grishams The Innocent Man, which he produced into a six-part documentary. 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. Tommy Ward: The Innocent Man (@WardInnocentMan) / Twitter 19 talking about this. Fontenots death sentence was later reduced to life before his conviction was reversed by a federal appeals court. However, she would never be seen alive again. All rights reserved. a man whose murder conviction in Oklahoma was overturned, Fontenot and Thomas Ward were convicted of killing Ada convenience store clerk Donna Denice Haraway in 1984, which became a Netflix documentary series, Oklahoma Army veteran gets probation for role in Jan. 6 US Capitol riot, Human remains found, Oklahoma white supremacist leader might be connected, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. She said police and prosecutors withheld evidence that would have assisted Wards defense. Tommy's legal team dedicated to freeing Tommy Ward from prison for a crime he did not commit.. Ward's newly released EP "From This Moment On," (2022) produced by LeCoq Records, showcases his stunning vocal abilities . 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. When you read their briefs, they dont take issue with the fact that this information was withheld from him. Timmy Ward gamelogs for the 2022 season. State asks U.S. Supreme Court to uphold conviction in 'Innocent Man'

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