In 2020, District Judge Paula Inge vacated his conviction, dismissed the charges against him, and ordered him set free. Fontenot was released from prison about one year ago after a federal judge found he also didnt receive a fair trial. 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. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Courtesy Netflix. The 10th U.S. 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 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 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. 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 still behind bars waiting for an appeal. Ward was convicted in the case in 1989 along with a co-defendant named Karl Fontenot. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. Fontenot was released in December 2019 at the age of 55 after a federal judge ordered he be released or retried. Oklahoma Attorney General's Office Appeals Release Of Tommy Ward. More damningly, Haraway had not been been stabbed as the young men had described. A state judge overturned Wards conviction in 2020, but the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office has appealed the ruling. Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. 2022 Reader's Choice Winners . The two insisted they were innocent, but still ended up convicted of Haraway's murder. Last week, a Pontotoc County District Court judge ordered Tommy Ward be released from prison. Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. 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. Ward was featured in the Netflix. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Ward is a hardworking and dedicated artist who continues to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry. Fontenot, Wards co-defendant, was ordered released by a federal judge in 2019, and the state is also appealing that order. 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. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. 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. Last week, a Pontotoc County District Court judge ordered Tommy Ward be released from prison. But now, Wards release has been blocked by the state Attorney Generals Office. . 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. Both are model prisoners. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. "Tommy is the epitome of great music. More to come. She was 24. Tommy Ward was one of two men serving a life sentence for the 1984 murder of Denice Haraway in Ada. In addition to his impressive performances, Ward has a true passion for music and the arts. 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. Ward remained in prison while the state appealed the ruling, The Associated Press reported at the time. Subscribe for the latest music videos, performances, and more!Tommy's new album "From This Moment On" available n. 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. Additional reporting by The Associated Press. Donate to The Frontier to support local independent investigative journalism. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. Want to support our mission to hold powerful people accountable, give a voice to the voiceless, and shine a light on darkness in Oklahoma? So thats the reason I gave them an untrue statement so they would leave me alone.. Please refer to our. He is now 58 years old and says he will not admit guilt even if it means improving his chances at parole. Subscribe and Follow on Facebook and YouTube for the latest music. 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. I didnt even know what the word 'statement' or 'confessing' meant 'til they told me I confessed to it. 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. 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 victim, Donna Denice Haraway, disappeared from the McAnally's convenience store in Ada on April 28, 1984. This is new info, and were trying to figure what this means right now. 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, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. 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. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. As a nonprofit news organization,The Frontieris funded by tax-deductible donations made by people who support quality journalism. Though no physical evidence tied them to Haraways disappearance, Fontenot and Ward initially confessed to the crime after questioning by investigators. Fontenot and Thomas Ward were convicted of killing Ada convenience store clerk Donna Denice Haraway in 1984. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. Fontenot, 57 and Tommy Ward, 61, were both twice convicted in Haraways murder. More to come. Tommy Ward to be set free . 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 Oklahoma attorney generals office, which appealed Inges order, declined to comment on Thursdays ruling. info@tommywardmusic.com | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. 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. 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. 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. 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. In June this year, the US Supreme Court refused to take up the case and to examine the states appeal. Both Ward and Fontenot would go on to recant their confessions. She doesnt believe he could be given a fair trial after more than 30 years. Fontenot has been released pending a decision from the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Ward's accurate description of the blouse was the only information that he gave that was correct in his confession, Barrett said. mail 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. Instead, she had died from a gunshot wound. 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.. OK man arrested for. The judge said newly discovered evidence about Fontenots alibi and other suspects in the murder provided solid proof of his probable innocence. It was later upheld when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the state's appeal. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! The judge found Tommy Ward didnt get a fair trial. 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. 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 Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday reinstated Tommy Ward's murder conviction in an infamous 1984 case out of Ada. John 3:16. Please refer to our. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. 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. Fontenot is currently awaiting the results of a federal appeal. Barrett noted that the appeals court ordered the lower court to consider an additional claim regarding new evidence discovered in 2019. You can opt-out at any time. Both judges found the defendants constitutional rights were violated by police and prosecutors who until 2019 didnt turn over more than 300 pages of documents that would have helped the defendants. "They said I had a choice to write it or tape it. The convictions were based almost entirely on accounts they said they retrieved from dreams. Ward's case, and others, have been the. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. All rights reserved. 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. But the men quickly recanted and have claimed for decades that police coerced them to say they killed Haraway. 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. 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. Fontenots conviction was overturned in 2019, and he was freed pending an appeal by the state. 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. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. Position: WR Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 College: Rutgers Hometown: Canton, PA High School: Canton HS 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. Tommy Ward, 61, and Karl Fontenot, 58, were . Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. Oklahomas Court of Criminal Appeals, however, argued that the district court had abused its discretion in that instance. 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.. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. However, she would never be seen alive again. Justices may determine before the courts term ends this summer whether to review the case. 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. An Oklahoma judge ruled that the case rested on circumstantial evidence. @WardInnocentMan. Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the case. Advertisement On Friday, a judge vacated Ward's convictions and sentences, dismissed the charges and . Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Ward has also had a widely celebrated opening act run for comedy legend Louie Anderson during his tenure at the Plaza Hotel. In both Ward and Fontenots cases, judges issued rulings excoriating investigators for withholding favorable evidence from defense attorneys. 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. Local prosecutors again secured their convictions, based largely on their confessions. Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to receive a fair trial. 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. Heres a link to the decision, Mark Barrett & The Center on Wrongful Convictions tweeted, with the legal documents confirming the move attached. attempted to take on Fontenot's case in 2013, a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project. 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. 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 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. She decided to vacate Wards conviction and life sentence, and ordered his release. He is currently serving time at the Dick Conner Correctional Center in Hominy in Oklahoma. 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. 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. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna Denice Haraway. It was based on the 2006 true-crime book The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town by John Grisham. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. PublishedDecember 26, 2020 at 10:50 AM CST, KGOU | 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. We cant do it without your support. An autopsy showed evidence that she had been shot and no sign that she had been stabbed, per The AP. John Grisham continues to correspond with both men. 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. You can opt-out at any time. 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. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal . 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! 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. Heres a link to the decision https://t.co/21UQag7LEi, Tommy Ward: The Innocent Man (@WardInnocentMan) December 19, 2020. - QUINCY JONES, 27 time GRAMMY-award-winning producer "A fine singer A lovely, silky voice." The Court of Criminal Appeals ordered Tommy Ward, 60, to remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower courts ruling that he be released. He reminds me of working with Frank Sinatra in some strange way." 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. 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. Fontenot was sentenced to death again but Ward was sentenced to life in prison, according to The Oklahoman. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. Fontenot's case was picked up by The Innocence Project in 2011, but there's . Share The judge also called the evidence against Ward circumstantial and said nearly all of the details in his confession were inaccurate. - BART TORRES, 99.7FM The Highway Vibe. 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. The state court of criminal appeals voted unanimously to reinstate Tommy Ward's murder conviction. She said police and prosecutors withheld evidence that would have assisted Wards defense. 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