Fontenot and Thomas Ward were convicted of killing Ada convenience store clerk Donna Denice Haraway in 1984. They cant. The judge said newly discovered evidence about Fontenots alibi and other suspects in the murder provided solid proof of his probable innocence. A federal judge in Muskogee overturned Fontenot's conviction in late 2019. Tommy Ward from Netflix documentary has murder conviction reinstated Fontenot was sentenced to death again but Ward was sentenced to life in prison, according to The Oklahoman. Oklahoma court reinstates 'Innocent Man' murder conviction 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. Court upholds overturned conviction in 'Innocent Man' case 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. Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to receive a fair trial. 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. The Court of Criminal Appeals ruled Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021 that 60-year-old Tommy Ward remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower court's ruling. The Court of Criminal Appeals ordered Tommy Ward, 60, to remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower courts ruling that he be released. Courtesy Netflix. An Oklahoma judge ruled that the case rested on circumstantial evidence. 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 state also claims witnesses saw men matching Ward and Fontenots descriptions in the convenience store where Haraway worked before she disappeared. The judge also called the evidence against Ward circumstantial and said nearly all of the details in his confession were inaccurate. 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. Fontenot has been released pending a decision from the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the case. Tommy Ward: The Innocent Man (@WardInnocentMan) / Twitter Forget Me Not EP available now on all major platforms. Tweet Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear 'Innocent Man' case 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. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna "Denice" Haraway. Ward remains in prison as the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals weighs his case. Appears the state will retry Karl Fontenot, who was released 2 years ago and subject of #netflix special. OK man arrested for. 7726 5241 Dial by your location +1 346 248 7799 US Are allowed finish! remains wrongfully imprisoned . 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. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday reinstated Tommy Ward's murder conviction in an infamous 1984 case out of Ada. 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. 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. The state of Oklahoma engaged in an egregious, decades-long pattern of prosecutorial misconduct to ensure that the facts of Karl Fontenots innocence never came to light, Fontenots legal team told the court. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. 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 . It was based on the 2006 true-crime book The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town by John Grisham. Ive never been in jail or had a police record in my life and no one in my face telling me Id killed a pretty woman, that Im going to get the death penalty, so I told them the story hoping they would leave me alone. 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. Court Extends Temporary Stay 1 Day Before Tommy Ward's Expected Release Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. sharing the stories, pictures and loves of Oklahomans across our great state. Advertisement On Friday, a judge vacated Ward's convictions and sentences, dismissed the charges and . As a nonprofit news organization,The Frontieris funded by tax-deductible donations made by people who support quality journalism. "The Innocent Man" Tommy Ward files another brief - KFOR.com The Oklahoma attorney generals office, which appealed Inges order, declined to comment on Thursdays ruling. 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. ADVERTISEMENT Lawyers for a man whose murder conviction in Oklahoma was overturned after he served more than three decades in prison urged the U.S. Supreme Court this week not to grant the states request to review the case. 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. The. I received Christmas cards last week from both Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot, so we keep in touch," Grisham said. Both are model prisoners. Attorneys in Ada 'Innocent Man' case request judge vacate Ward's Ward and co-defendant Karl Fontenot's initial convictions and death sentences for Harways death were overturned, but both were again convicted on retrial with Fontenot again receiving a death sentence and Ward being sentenced to life in prison. PublishedDecember 26, 2020 at 10:50 AM CST, KGOU | Court rules 'Innocent Man' defendant to remain imprisoned - AP NEWS In June this year, the US Supreme Court refused to take up the case and to examine the states appeal. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and filming for Halloween Ends to release on October 14, 2022 with! He is 54 years old and is being held at the at the North Fork Correctional Center in Sayre in Oklahoma. Barrett noted that the appeals court ordered the lower court to consider an additional claim regarding new evidence discovered in 2019. Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the case. The two insisted they were innocent, but still ended up convicted of Haraway's murder. About Tommy Ward Tommy Ward is still behind bars waiting for an appeal. Ward's newly released EP From This Moment On, (2022) produced by LeCoq Records, showcases his stunning vocal abilities and features truly unique arrangements played by some of the world's most respected musicians, including Bill Cunliffe, John Pattitucci, Vinny Colaiuta, and others. He is now 58 years old and says he will not admit guilt even if it means improving his chances at parole. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. Fight for his release from jail crime Netflix Series was released back in 2018, and temporary. 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. 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. This contradicted the confessions, which stated that Haraway had been stabbed to death. We promise to never spam you. Ward was convicted alongside Karl Fontenot for murdering Donna Harraway in Ada. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. Yale University Honors 9-Year-Old Scientist, Water Main Break In Tulsa Forces Limited Road Closure, Metro Summer Youth Camp Hopes To Prevent Violence In The Community, 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 state court of criminal appeals voted unanimously to reinstate Tommy Ward's murder conviction. 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. You can opt-out at any time. The most recent exculpatory disclosure came in 2019, 31 years after Fontenots conviction.. 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 on 6 delivered right to your inbox! Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. Ward's newly released EP "From This Moment On," (2022) produced by LeCoq Records, showcases his stunning vocal abilities . 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. Thomas Ward, known to the public as Tommy Ward, was convicted in 1999 of the 1984 murder of Donna Denice Haraway in Ada, Oklahoma. Karl Fontenot: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com Among Fontenots legal team is Donald B. VerrilliJr., the U.S. solicitor general from 2011 to 2016. Wr Hines Ward - NFL.com /a > attorneys representing Tommy Ward was one of two serving! Denice Haraway of Ada, Oklahoma went in for an ordinary day of work at her convenience store job on April 28, 1984. Meanwhile, Fontenot, as explained in the Netflix series, had perhaps offered his testimony to the aggressive police because he both feared for his safety and wanted to escape from what was described as poverty and homelessness. In both Ward and Fontenots cases, judges issued rulings excoriating investigators for withholding favorable evidence from defense attorneys. It was later upheld when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the state's appeal. Ward remained in prison while the state appealed the ruling, The Associated Press reported at the time. "They said I had a choice to write it or tape it. Newson6.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, 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! Local prosecutors again secured their convictions, based largely on their confessions. Ward's case was the focus of the Netflix documentary "The Innocent Man, " which was released in 2018. John 3:16. She doesnt believe he could be given a fair trial after more than 30 years. The judge found Tommy Ward didnt get a fair trial. 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 was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. Haraway had been shot rather than stabbed, was 20 miles away from where the men said her body had been dumped, and she had been wearing different clothes than those Ward and Fontenot described. 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. Oklahoma Attorney General's Office Appeals Release Of Tommy Ward. Tommy Ward has been in prison for 35 years and was supposed to be released today after a judge dismissed Ward's murder conviction. She decided to vacate Wards conviction and life sentence, and ordered his release. 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 Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. 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. Tommy Ward andKarl Fontenot were sentenced to death in 1985 for the murder of Denice Haraway, despite the fact that their confessions didn't match the crime they were accused of. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. 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. Since the age of 16, Ward has had the opportunity to work alongside industry veterans and legends. Fontenot is currently awaiting the results of a federal appeal. 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. Judge vacates sentence; Tommy Ward to be set free 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. The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. 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. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - Convicted murderer Tommy Ward has filed a brief in response to the Attorney General's motion to keep him locked up in prison. But one day before Ward's release, a temporary stay,. Tommy Ward has been in prison 35 years for a murder he swears he did not commit. 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. Also Read: 'The Innocent Man': Netflix Sets December Launch for Docuseries Based on John Grisham Book. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His 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. Oklahomas Court of Criminal Appeals, however, argued that the district court had abused its discretion in that instance. Fontenot has been released pending a decision from the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Share 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- The Innocent Man's Legal Team's Page | Ada OK - Facebook We promise to never spam you. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! 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. 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.. Ward was convicted in the case in 1989 along with a co-defendant named Karl Fontenot. 2023 www.oklahoman.com. Ward was featured in the Netflix. A spokeswoman for Attorney General John OConnor declined to comment on the pending cases. This is new info, and were trying to figure what this means right now. In a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project, the author discussed their fates. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. 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. - BART TORRES, 99.7FM The Highway Vibe. 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. Attorneys in 'Innocent Man' case eye federal court after lower court's Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the judges ruling last year, saying that, Almost no evidence connected him to the crime other than his own videotaped confession, a confession that rang false in almost every particular., The appeals court said Fontenot has brought forth new evidence that is sufficient to unlock the actual innocence gateway and to allow his substantive claims to be heard on the merits. The 10th U.S. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. 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. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. At time of writing, he is still serving his life sentence without the possibility of parole, and is now 54 years old. Both Ward and Fontenot would go on to recant their confessions. Ward is currently still in prison while the appeals process continues. "They have now been in prison for 31 years, serving hard time for a murder committed by someone else. He is currently serving time at the Dick Conner Correctional Center in Hominy in Oklahoma. Fontenots death sentence was later reduced to life before his conviction was reversed by a federal appeals court. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Last week, a Pontotoc County District Court judge ordered Tommy Ward be released from prison. So thats the reason I gave them an untrue statement so they would leave me alone.. Fontenot's case was picked up by The Innocence Project in 2011, but there's . 37 years since Ada murder, Ward still in custody - KTEN All rights reserved. News9.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, 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. We cant do it without your support. Attorneys for a man convicted for the 1984 kidnapping and murder of an Ada woman say they plan to file a federal case to try and overturn his conviction after the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals overturned a lower court's order that would have made him a free man. 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. But now, Wards release has been blocked by the state Attorney Generals Office. 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.. Haraways body was located after the convictions. Ward is currently still in prison while the appeals process continues. 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.