Anthony Graves: Twice Robbed by the State of Texas
The State of Texas Steals Eighteen Years of Life from Anthony Graves, and Then Spits in His Face
Sure. Now the State of Texas wants to be sticklers for the rules. According to a February 14, 2011 report from The Houston Chronicle, the Texas Comptroller's office is refusing to pay $1.4 million dollars in compensation to Anthony Graves because the words "actual innocence" didn't appear on the judge's court order to release him.
Why weren't state employees, such as the prosecutor, as adamant about following the rules when they were trying the case? It was discovered by the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals in 2006 that prosecutors had withheld evidence and elicited false testimony in their case against Anthony Graves from 1994. If the "rule of law" is so important to these sorts of bureaucrats, why are those rules so subjectively applied?
For that matter, when prosecutors commit these sorts of abuses, why aren't they brought up on charges? Isn't this sort of case a perfect example of unlawful imprisonment, kidnapping, and felony conspiracy? Since Anthony Graves was, in fact, on death row for something he did not do, shouldn't those people working in the prosecutor's office (at the time) be charged with attempted murder?
If you live in the State of Texas, and do not voice an objection to this, you're a part of the problem. In 1994, it was Anthony Graves. Who else has been convicted wrongfully in the Republic of Texas over the years? How about the rest of America? Around our nation various District Attorneys, and staff show not as much of a concern for truth, justice, and whether a person is actually guilty of a crime, as they are how high their conviction ratio looks on a resume.
No amount of money can make up for what one crooked prosecutor has stolen from Anthony Graves. While a mere $1.4 million is nowhere near sufficient to replace his lost years, or the pain for his family, the Comptroller for the State of Texas should at least have the decency to make the effort. Or, do those in government just find some sort of sick pleasure in welding power over others? If you only remember one thing about Anthony Graves, let it be that, he is you.
Source:
Opinion
Houston Chronicle "State rejects compensation for wrongly convicted man" February 14, 2011
Blogs.chron.com"Why Anthony Charles Graves Was Denied Compensation" February 14, 2011
WRAL.com (North Carolina)"Law To Remove Overzealous Prosecutors Removed Proposed" April 11, 2007
TDN.com (Washington State) "Are Overzealous Prosecutors Clogging the County's Court System?" April 29, 2009
Published by Donald Pennington - Featured Contributor in Politics
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27 Comments
Post a CommentInnocent people are being targeted and stalked for no reason; sometimes even set up in crime scenes because someone accused them of wrongdoing. The justice system can't get evidence, so this is their way of punishing outside the courts. So, it doesn't surprise me that once they get someone into court, they would withhold evidence.
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Wow, a real travesty!
I expected better than that out of Texas one of the few well run states in our country.
This is an outrage. If the Texas authorities can't or won't do anything about it, then maybe the feds should award Graves the money, then lop that amount off of the latest Texas earmark.
Crazy and absurd, and unfortunately crazy and absurd is becoming the norm.
This man has been served a huge injustice, Texas should be ashamed.
Agreed with every word Don. This man deserves far more than he can ever be repaid.
I hope he's able to get on with his life. It won't be easy for him, with or without any wrongful imprisonment money. You're so right that there is no amount of money that can make up for the lost years.
I saw this on the news and when I heard it was in Texas, I wasn't a bit surprised. It amazes me how judges will allow evidence that proves guilt and won't allow evidence that disproves guilt in some cases. If evidence that proved he was innocent had been allowed during his trial, he never would have been convicted to begin with. Anyway, you would hope the jury would have done the right thing.
What a sad story!