Interview with a Condemned Man: Charles Dean Hood

From his death row cell in Livingston Texas, Charles Dean Hood is the next Texas inmate set to die by lethal injection for the double murders of Ronald Williamson, and Traci Lynn Wallace in 1987. Hood has been on death row for 18 years.

Along with mitigating evidence, questions about his mental capacities, motive and other factors in his trial, what was never brought up in this case was the posable conflict in interest because the trial attorney and residing judge allegedly had a long time romantic affair going on.

According to Alan Berlow, and reported on Salon.com, "Court Judge Verla Sue Holland and Collin County District Attorney Tom O'Connell" were romantically involved. What people do behind closed doors is really no-ones business especially if it's between 2 consenting adults, but when your up for a Capital murder charge, it would make you wonder if there is some kind of conflict of interest here.

I for one thing Hood's sentence should be commuted to life instead of death. After all, before we execute someone, we should be 100% sure that they are guilty. Hood claims his innocence, and here is my interview with Charles. You be the judge, but make sure your heads not in the clouds, or should I say on the pillow.

Charles, what were you convicted of and sentenced to die for?

Capital murder. I was a body guard for a wealthy businessman and him and his girlfriend were murdered in 1989. I have been on death row for 18 years now.

Are you guilty?

Absolutely NOT. Evidence clearly shows some others did this crime. Homicide detectives and prosecution would not go after the true suspects, that's a FACT!

Were there any outstanding circumstances about your case?

Other fingerprints at the crime scene, blood from a third party at the crime scene. Fingerprints on the safe were someone else's, and that was a safe that was broken into. The gun was never found, yet the man who kept threatening to kill the victim left his death threats on several answering machine tapes. The gun he owned was the same type as the murder weapon.

A voice analysis test wasn't performed to prove my voice was not on the 911 tape. I repeatedly asked t=for that test to be done by an expert because the jury asked to hear the 911 tape while in deliberating. Clearly what was in their minds was if my voice was on the 911 tape, I must have been there. I begged to get it performed.

Prosecutors withheld evidence in this case especially the Parrifin Test, that clearly showed I did not fire a gun. Prosecution was full of corruption.

Do you have an execution date?

Yes, for June 17, 2008.

What were your thoughts when you learned of this?

If you know anything about the Judicial System in Texas you know it's full of corruption, and you don't get a fair shot from the start. I'm supposed to be given a fair shot regardless if I'm poor and can't afford legal assistance.

I was given 2 incompetent attorneys who did not defend, not bring in expert testimony, and only had three witnesses for character profile. Getting a "date" just adds to the injustice, Texas would rather kill you than admit they made a mistake.

How have you spent your time on death row?

I have done a lot of artwork, read a lot, studied law to be able to assist myself cause lawyers will file just anything and you slip through the cracks. I constantly exercise to stay in good shape and keep the stress off. I have felt at times on giving up, because it's what happens to you. If it wasn't for family and friends it's so hard to make it. That's the truth! I've met some good people on the row. I guess the hardest is falling in love. It's so hard on both parties. It happened to me, and she left without a word. So, you do your best to heal your heart and hope the next is stronger than the first.

What are your thoughts on the Supreme Court's ruling on lethal injection?

The Supreme Court does what they want. Do they follow the law? I don't think so, my opinion. They have no-one to answer to. I remember when a Supreme Court justice said about Bruce Collins, "If this man is executed, Texas would be executing an innocent man."

I believe you just got to do better than their court clerks when it comes to saving your life. We don't understand why some case's are ruled in this fashion and others ruled in a different way. They did not rule lethal injection was cruel and unusual, they ruled it didn't cause the above.

Are there innocent men on death row?

YES!! Are there men who shouldn't have got the death sentence? yes!

Do you believe in an "afterlife"?

I believe in going to Heaven when you die if you are a Christian. No-one sees the Father but through Jesus Christ.

Do you think you will get a stay of execution?

I stand firm in my faith, and Yes answers the question.

Do you get visitors?

Not very often. Family lives too far away. friends will, but can't afford to come, I take it. Do I get mail? Yeah, if people get off their butts to write :-). Remember, snail mail takes an extra effort, I don't have a computer. :-)

Charles welcomes pen pal mail and you can send it to the following address:

Polunsky unit DR

Charles D. Hood #000982

3872 FM 350 South

Livingston, Texas

77351

I urge everyone who reads this to either phone, fax or email on behalf of Charles and ask politely that Charles should get a stay of execution.

Thanks You

Contact information:

Act Now!
Call the Citizen's Opinion Hotline: (800) 252-9600 [for Texas callers]
Citizen's Assistance and Opinion Hotline: (512) 463-1782 [for Austin and out-of-state callers]
Office of the Governor Main Switchboard: (512) 463-2000
Fax a letter to the Board of Pardons and Paroles at (512) 467-0945

Email abolition.movement@hotmail.com or call 713-503-2633 for more information about local actions against executions.

Visit http://www.tcadp.org/index.php?page=houston for latest news and other events against the death penalty

Contact information provided by Texas abolitionist groups.

Other sources:

http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2005/06/24/texas_court_affair/index.html

Letter from Charles D. Hood