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. Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to receive a fair trial. Critically acclaimed singer, musician, and entertainer. 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.. "They said I had a choice to write it or tape it. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. The victim, Donna Denice Haraway, disappeared from the McAnally's convenience store in Ada on April 28, 1984. The most recent exculpatory disclosure came in 2019, 31 years after Fontenots conviction.. His conviction is the subject of the Netflix docu-series "The . ADVERTISEMENT Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and filming for Halloween Ends to release on October 14, 2022 with! The judge said newly discovered evidence about Fontenots alibi and other suspects in the murder provided solid proof of his probable innocence. That evidence includes previously undisclosed suspects and whether police provided Ward with information about the victim's blouse, which prosecutors said he had described. Both Ward and . We promise to never spam you. Please refer to our. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna "Denice" Haraway. A spokeswoman for Attorney General John OConnor declined to comment on the pending cases. A state judge overturned Wards conviction in 2020, but the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office has appealed the ruling. I didnt even know what the word 'statement' or 'confessing' meant 'til they told me I confessed to it. More to come. 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. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. Subscribe and Follow on Facebook and YouTube for the latest music. So where are the two men now, more than 30 years later? Instead, she had died from a gunshot wound. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna Denice Haraway. Oct 28, 2022. 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. The response filed by Fontenots lawyers this week said the vast majority of evidence that the state claims was available in the 1980s was actually being suppressed by the state. Courtesy. 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. 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. attempted to take on Fontenot's case in 2013, a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. Both Ward and Fontenot would go on to recant their confessions. 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. The Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. 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. Fontenot, 57 and Tommy Ward, 61, were both twice convicted in Haraways murder. 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. An Oklahoma judge ruled that the case rested on circumstantial evidence. - STEVE WYNN, founder Wynn Resorts "I just saw Tommy in Las Vegas at a corporate event and I was BLOWN AWAY. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. 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. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. Subscribe for the latest music videos, performances, and more!Tommy's new album "From This Moment On" available n. Please refer to our. Ward is currently still in prison while the appeals process continues. 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. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Courtesy Netflix. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! The. 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. To the extent that this could be the next Sinatra of our time." 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. So thats the reason I gave them an untrue statement so they would leave me alone.. 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. Tommy Ward, 61, and Karl Fontenot, 58, were . 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. sharing the stories, pictures and loves of Oklahomans across our great state. "Everything about their confession has been proven wrong by the discovery of the body," attorney Janet Davis noted in the documentary. Justices may determine before the courts term ends this summer whether to review the case. Denice Haraway of Ada, Oklahoma went in for an ordinary day of work at her convenience store job on April 28, 1984. The judge also called the evidence against Ward circumstantial and said nearly all of the details in his confession were inaccurate. Tommy Ward was one of two men serving a life sentence for the 1984 murder of Denice Haraway in Ada. info@tommywardmusic.com | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. Ward's newly released EP "From This Moment On," (2022) produced by LeCoq Records, showcases his stunning vocal abilities . 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. 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. Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday reinstated Tommy Ward's murder conviction in an infamous 1984 case out of Ada. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Share In both Ward and Fontenots cases, judges issued rulings excoriating investigators for withholding favorable evidence from defense attorneys. 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. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. Per The Associated Press, the convictions were based almost entirely on accounts they said they retrieved from dreams, and 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.. 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 and Fontenot were sentenced to death on January 21, 1985 after being found guilty of murdering Haraway. Tommy Ward has been in prison for 35 years and was supposed to be released today after a judge dismissed Ward's murder conviction. 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 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. The organization has not offered an update on the status of their efforts. 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'. @WardInnocentMan. mail She decided to vacate Wards conviction and life sentence, and ordered his release. All rights reserved. Last week, a Pontotoc County District Court judge ordered Tommy Ward be released from prison. Fontenot and Thomas Ward were convicted of killing Ada convenience store clerk Donna Denice Haraway in 1984. "Tommy is the epitome of great music. 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. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Ward has also had a widely celebrated opening act run for comedy legend Louie Anderson during his tenure at the Plaza Hotel. Ward's case was the focus of the Netflix documentary "The Innocent Man, " which was released in 2018. 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. 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. 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 attorneys claim a trove of hundreds of new documents uncovered in a police storage room back up Fontenots claims of innocence. 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. 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. Local prosecutors again secured their convictions, based largely on their confessions. Tweet John 3:16. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. She doesnt believe he could be given a fair trial after more than 30 years. 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. Last week, a Pontotoc County District Court judge ordered Tommy Ward be released from prison. Ward is a hardworking and dedicated artist who continues to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry. Fontenots death sentence was later reduced to life before his conviction was reversed by a federal appeals court. The convictions were based almost entirely on accounts they said they retrieved from dreams. YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal . - BART TORRES, 99.7FM The Highway Vibe. remains wrongfully imprisoned . Fontenot has been released pending a decision from the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. 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.. Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the case. Tommy Ward was scheduled to be released in December 2020, but . Fontenot was released from prison about one year ago after a federal judge found he also didnt receive a fair trial. Ward was convicted alongside Karl Fontenot for murdering Donna Harraway in Ada. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. Ward is the subject of a Netflix docuseries and a book by John Grisham. 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 state also claims witnesses saw men matching Ward and Fontenots descriptions in the convenience store where Haraway worked before she disappeared. By: Dana Hertneky. When you read their briefs, they dont take issue with the fact that this information was withheld from him. OK man arrested for. 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. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. 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. Heres a link to the decision, Mark Barrett & The Center on Wrongful Convictions tweeted, with the legal documents confirming the move attached. 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. 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. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. 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. 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. 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. Newson6.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, 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. 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. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. 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. 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. In a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project, the author discussed their fates. Since the age of 16, Ward has had the opportunity to work alongside industry veterans and legends. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Tuesday, July 6th 2021, 11:00 pm. 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. In June this year, the US Supreme Court refused to take up the case and to examine the states appeal. I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. The courts exhaustively reviewed voluminous amounts of withheld exculpatory evidence and correctly concluded that this is the rare case in which a habeas petitioner has credibly demonstrated actual innocence, the lawyers said. We cant do it without your support. 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. The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. - QUINCY JONES, 27 time GRAMMY-award-winning producer "A fine singer A lovely, silky voice." 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. 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.