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. 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. Ward has also had a widely celebrated opening act run for comedy legend Louie Anderson during his tenure at the Plaza Hotel. Ward is a hardworking and dedicated artist who continues to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry. A spokeswoman for Attorney General John OConnor declined to comment on the pending cases. 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. 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. The judge found Tommy Ward didnt get a fair trial. Fontenot was released from prison about one year ago after a federal judge found he also didnt receive a fair trial. Fontenots conviction was overturned in 2019, and he was freed pending an appeal by the state. It was later upheld when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the state's appeal. Fontenots lawyers at first waived the right to respond to the state, but the Supreme Court then requested a response. Judge orders release or new trial for 'Innocent Man' defendant 19 talking about this. 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. Oct 28, 2022. 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. 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. 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. Share "They said I had a choice to write it or tape it. Fontenot has been released pending a decision from the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Tommy's legal team dedicated to freeing Tommy Ward from prison for a crime he did not commit.. 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. Timmy Ward gamelogs for the 2022 season. Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to receive a fair trial. Ward and Fontenot were both granted a retrial a few years later, and again found guilty of Haraway's death. Barrett noted that the appeals court ordered the lower court to consider an additional claim regarding new evidence discovered in 2019. He is now 58 years old and says he will not admit guilt even if it means improving his chances at parole. The state court of criminal appeals voted unanimously to reinstate Tommy Ward's murder conviction. 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. and his videos on social media have racked up millions of views. In 2020, District Judge Paula Inge vacated his conviction, dismissed the charges against him, and ordered him set free. You can opt-out at any time. Fontenots and Wards attorneys did not respond to requests for comment. 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 remained in prison while the state appealed the ruling, The Associated Press reported at the time. More:Oklahoma Army veteran gets probation for role in Jan. 6 US Capitol riot. All rights reserved. Federal appeals court upholds overturned conviction in Ada 'Innocent have asked the court of appeals . Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. We promise to never spam you. 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. 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. As a nonprofit news organization,The Frontieris funded by tax-deductible donations made by people who support quality journalism. Attorneys in 'Innocent Man' case eye federal court after lower court's Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. Subscribe for the latest music videos, performances, and more!Tommy's new album "From This Moment On" available n. Its clear as day.. Heres a link to the decision, Mark Barrett & The Center on Wrongful Convictions tweeted, with the legal documents confirming the move attached. 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. 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. Ward's newly released EP "From This Moment On," (2022) produced by LeCoq Records, showcases his stunning vocal abilities . The. mail Tommy Ward - Official Site About Tommy Ward 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! attempted to take on Fontenot's case in 2013, a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project. 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. A state judge overturned Wards conviction in 2020, but the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office has appealed the ruling. Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. 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. Tommy Ward, 61, and Karl Fontenot, 58, were . 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. Justices may determine before the courts term ends this summer whether to review the case. Fontenot was released in December 2019 at the age of 55 after a federal judge ordered he be released or retried. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. Fontenots death sentence was later reduced to life before his conviction was reversed by a federal appeals court. 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. Tweet Subscribe for the latest music videos, performances, and more!Tommy's new album "From This Moment On" available n. Tommy Ward. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Courtesy Netflix. 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. 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. "They have now been in prison for 31 years, serving hard time for a murder committed by someone else. 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. Also Read: 'The Innocent Man': Netflix Sets December Launch for Docuseries Based on John Grisham Book. 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.. We are pressing forward exploring the possibility of going to federal court with additional appeals, Barrett said. sharing the stories, pictures and loves of Oklahomans across our great state. 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. 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. 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. Tommy Ward has been in prison 35 years for a murder he swears he did not commit. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His 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. 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. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. 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. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. Fontenot is free on bond as the appeals process plays out. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. The circumstances surrounding Ward and Fontenot's confessions were suspicious from the start, and in fact were later proved to be inconsistent with what had actually happened to Haraway: Her body was ultimately found years after she vanished, 30 miles away from where the duo said they had deposited it. More to come. - QUINCY JONES, 27 time GRAMMY-award-winning producer "A fine singer A lovely, silky voice." 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. Since the age of 16, Ward has had the opportunity to work alongside industry veterans and legends. 2022 Reader's Choice Winners . 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 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. John Grisham continues to correspond with both men. ADVERTISEMENT Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna "Denice" Haraway. The Court of Criminal Appeals ordered Tommy Ward, 60, to remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower courts ruling that he be released. Heres a link to the decision https://t.co/21UQag7LEi, Tommy Ward: The Innocent Man (@WardInnocentMan) December 19, 2020. What Happened To Tommy Ward And Karl Fontenot? 'The Innocent Man However, she would never be seen alive again. By: Dana Hertneky. He reminds me of working with Frank Sinatra in some strange way." Local prosecutors again secured their convictions, based largely on their confessions. Oklahoma court reinstates murder conviction of Tommy Ward Oklahomas Court of Criminal Appeals, however, argued that the district court had abused its discretion in that instance. Fontenot is currently awaiting the results of a federal appeal. 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.. 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. Last week, a Pontotoc County District Court judge ordered Tommy Ward be released from prison. 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. [Warning: Spoilers for "The Innocent Man" ahead!]. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. 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. YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. 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. But one day before Ward's release, a temporary stay,. The judge said newly discovered evidence about Fontenots alibi and other suspects in the murder provided solid proof of his probable innocence. 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 Court of Criminal Appeals ordered Tommy Ward, 60, to remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower court's ruling that he be released. 7726 5241 Dial by your location +1 346 248 7799 US Are allowed finish! The Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. 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. 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.