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. 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. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. Fontenot was sentenced to death again but Ward was sentenced to life in prison, according to The Oklahoman. Fontenot. 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. By: Dana Hertneky. Denice Haraway of Ada, Oklahoma went in for an ordinary day of work at her convenience store job on April 28, 1984. Fontenot and Thomas Ward were convicted of killing Ada convenience store clerk Donna Denice Haraway in 1984. Also Read: 'The Innocent Man': Netflix Sets December Launch for Docuseries Based on John Grisham Book. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. The convictions of Ward and Fontenot have been the subject of numerous books, including John Grishams The Innocent Man, which he produced into a six-part documentary. 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. 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. @WardInnocentMan. [Warning: Spoilers for "The Innocent Man" ahead!]. All rights reserved. Tommy Ward, 61, and Karl Fontenot, 58, were . - BART TORRES, 99.7FM The Highway Vibe. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal . 19 talking about this. 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. 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. In June this year, the US Supreme Court refused to take up the case and to examine the states appeal. 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! The judge said newly discovered evidence about Fontenots alibi and other suspects in the murder provided solid proof of his probable innocence. Ward was convicted alongside Karl Fontenot for murdering Donna Harraway in Ada. 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. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. John Grisham continues to correspond with both men. Courtesy. 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. 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. We are pressing forward exploring the possibility of going to federal court with additional appeals, Barrett said. She doesnt believe he could be given a fair trial after more than 30 years. 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. It was based on the 2006 true-crime book The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town by John Grisham. ADVERTISEMENT He is now 58 years old and says he will not admit guilt even if it means improving his chances at parole. Fontenot, 57 and Tommy Ward, 61, were both twice convicted in Haraways murder. Oklahoma Attorney General's Office Appeals Release Of Tommy Ward. 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. 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. Fontenots death sentence was later reduced to life before his conviction was reversed by a federal appeals court. 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. She decided to vacate Wards conviction and life sentence, and ordered his release. Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to receive a fair trial. So where are the two men now, more than 30 years later? Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. The judge said newly discovered evidence about Fontenot's alibi and other suspects in the murder provided "solid proof" of his probable innocence. Fontenot, Wards co-defendant, was ordered released by a federal judge in 2019, and the state is also appealing that order. Ward is currently still in prison while the appeals process continues. Tommy Ward. 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.. have asked the court of appeals . sharing the stories, pictures and loves of Oklahomans across our great state. The Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. More:Oklahoma Army veteran gets probation for role in Jan. 6 US Capitol riot. 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. In 2020, District Judge Paula Inge vacated his conviction, dismissed the charges against him, and ordered him set free. 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. In a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project, the author discussed their fates. Oct 28, 2022. Fontenot's case was picked up by The Innocence Project in 2011, but there's . His conviction is the subject of the Netflix docu-series "The . SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER, FIRST TAKE, 'The Innocent Man': Netflix Sets December Launch for Docuseries Based on John Grisham Book. Instead, she had died from a gunshot wound. 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. 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. Fontenots lawyers at first waived the right to respond to the state, but the Supreme Court then requested a response. Ward and Fontenot were sentenced to death on January 21, 1985 after being found guilty of murdering Haraway. "They said I had a choice to write it or tape it. 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. 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 10th U.S. 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. The two insisted they were innocent, but still ended up convicted of Haraway's murder. Subscribe for the latest music videos, performances, and more!Tommy's new album "From This Moment On" available n. 7726 5241 Dial by your location +1 346 248 7799 US Are allowed finish! A state judge overturned Wards conviction in 2020, but the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office has appealed the ruling. Courtesy Netflix. 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. Ward remains in prison as the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals weighs his case. Critically acclaimed singer, musician, and entertainer. Which they did after I taped the statement," Fontenot said almost immediately after his interrogation, as described in Grisham's book. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. 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. Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. 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. Share OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A man who has spent 35 years in prison in a murder case featured in the book and television series The Innocent Man must remain incarcerated even after a judge ordered his release, an appeals court ruled Thursday. Both Ward and . Advertisement On Friday, a judge vacated Ward's convictions and sentences, dismissed the charges and . 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. The judge found Tommy Ward didnt get a fair trial. However, she would never be seen alive again. Ward is a hardworking and dedicated artist who continues to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry. Both have excellent teams of lawyers who continue to work for their release.. 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. 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. Tommy Ward to be set free . 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. We promise to never spam you. The newlywed college student worked as a clerk there at night. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. The most recent exculpatory disclosure came in 2019, 31 years after Fontenots conviction.. Timmy Ward gamelogs for the 2022 season. Heres a link to the decision https://t.co/21UQag7LEi, Tommy Ward: The Innocent Man (@WardInnocentMan) December 19, 2020. However, court documents filed on Monday (29 August) show that on Friday (26 August), Oklahomas Court of Criminal Appeals reversed the judges decision and reinstated Wards conviction. 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's case was the focus of the Netflix documentary "The Innocent Man, " which was released in 2018. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. Barrett noted that the appeals court ordered the lower court to consider an additional claim regarding new evidence discovered in 2019. The convictions were based almost entirely on accounts they said they retrieved from dreams. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Appears the state will retry Karl Fontenot, who was released 2 years ago and subject of #netflix special. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday reinstated Tommy Ward's murder conviction in an infamous 1984 case out of Ada. Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. A federal judge in Muskogee overturned Fontenot's conviction in late 2019. Local prosecutors again secured their convictions, based largely on their confessions. Haraways body was located after the convictions. 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. Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the case. 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. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna "Denice" Haraway. But the men quickly recanted and have claimed for decades that police coerced them to say they killed Haraway. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. Oklahomas Court of Criminal Appeals, however, argued that the district court had abused its discretion in that instance. Since the age of 16, Ward has had the opportunity to work alongside industry veterans and legends. - STEVE WYNN, founder Wynn Resorts "I just saw Tommy in Las Vegas at a corporate event and I was BLOWN AWAY. Both Ward and Fontenot would go on to recant their confessions. 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. Fontenot is currently awaiting the results of a federal appeal. But one day before Ward's release, a temporary stay,. But now, Wards release has been blocked by the state Attorney Generals Office. Ward's attorney, Mark Barrett, will also be filing an appeal for exoneration. As a nonprofit news organization,The Frontieris funded by tax-deductible donations made by people who support quality journalism. The judge also called the evidence against Ward circumstantial and said nearly all of the details in his confession were inaccurate. Among Fontenots legal team is Donald B. VerrilliJr., the U.S. solicitor general from 2011 to 2016. 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. 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. 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.. Position: WR Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 College: Rutgers Hometown: Canton, PA High School: Canton HS attempted to take on Fontenot's case in 2013, a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project. 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. At time of writing, he is still serving his life sentence without the possibility of parole, and is now 54 years old. Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. remains wrongfully imprisoned . John 3:16. 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. mail 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. 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.. Heres a link to the decision, Mark Barrett & The Center on Wrongful Convictions tweeted, with the legal documents confirming the move attached. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Share. He reminds me of working with Frank Sinatra in some strange way." Later that year, an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Agent interviewed Tommy Ward, who said he, Karl Fontenot, and another man robbed the store Haraway worked at, then stabbed and raped. 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. 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. 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. 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! 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. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the 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. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. Subscribe and Follow on Facebook and YouTube for the latest music. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! An Oklahoma judge ruled that the case rested on circumstantial evidence. The Court of Criminal Appeals ordered Tommy Ward, 60, to remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower courts ruling that he be released. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. 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.. Last week, a Pontotoc County District Court judge ordered Tommy Ward be released from prison. 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. He is currently serving time at the Dick Conner Correctional Center in Hominy in Oklahoma. Tommy Ward has been in prison 35 years for a murder he swears he did not commit. 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. Fontenots conviction was overturned in 2019, and he was freed pending an appeal by the state. You can opt-out at any time. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! 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'. 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. Tommy Ward is still behind bars waiting for an appeal. 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.