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. 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. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - Convicted murderer Tommy Ward has filed a brief in response to the Attorney General's motion to keep him locked up in prison. Forget Me Not EP available now on all major platforms. 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. A state judge overturned Wards conviction in 2020, but the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office has appealed the ruling. You can opt-out at any time. 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.. Which they did after I taped the statement," Fontenot said almost immediately after his interrogation, as described in Grisham's book. Last week, a Pontotoc County District Court judge ordered Tommy Ward be released from prison. An autopsy showed evidence that she had been shot and no sign that she had been stabbed, per The AP. 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. Fight for his release from jail crime Netflix Series was released back in 2018, and temporary. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and filming for Halloween Ends to release on October 14, 2022 with! In June this year, the US Supreme Court refused to take up the case and to examine the states appeal. Courtesy Netflix. Fontenot is currently awaiting the results of a federal appeal. I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. Please refer to our. Tweet Both Ward and . But one day before Ward's release, a temporary stay,. Fontenots death sentence was later reduced to life before his conviction was reversed by a federal appeals court. In both Ward and Fontenots cases, judges issued rulings excoriating investigators for withholding favorable evidence from defense attorneys. Its clear as day.. Both are model prisoners. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. 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 judge found Tommy Ward didnt get a fair trial. 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. Tommy Ward. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Ward's case, and others, have been the. Ward is currently still in prison while the appeals process continues. 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. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. 19 talking about this. 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. Fontenot has been released pending a decision from the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. 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. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. More to come. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. Tuesday, July 6th 2021, 11:00 pm. Attorneys for a man convicted for the 1984 kidnapping and murder of an Ada woman say they plan to file a federal case to try and overturn his conviction after the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals overturned a lower court's order that would have made him a free man. 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.. PublishedDecember 26, 2020 at 10:50 AM CST, KGOU | 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. The attorneys claim a trove of hundreds of new documents uncovered in a police storage room back up Fontenots claims of innocence. The 10th U.S. Yale University Honors 9-Year-Old Scientist, Water Main Break In Tulsa Forces Limited Road Closure, Metro Summer Youth Camp Hopes To Prevent Violence In The Community, 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. The state also claims witnesses saw men matching Ward and Fontenots descriptions in the convenience store where Haraway worked before she disappeared. Among Fontenots legal team is Donald B. VerrilliJr., the U.S. solicitor general from 2011 to 2016. Tommy Ward to be set free . Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. 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. He often uses his platform to raise awareness for various charitable causes and uses his talents to give back to his community. Ada store clerk Denice Haraway was abducted and killed on April 28, 1984. . remains wrongfully imprisoned . 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. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. More:Oklahoma Army veteran gets probation for role in Jan. 6 US Capitol riot. 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 Court of Criminal Appeals ordered Tommy Ward, 60, to remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower court's ruling that he be released. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. It was based on the 2006 true-crime book The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town by John Grisham. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal . He reminds me of working with Frank Sinatra in some strange way." The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday reinstated Tommy Ward's murder conviction in an infamous 1984 case out of Ada. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Subscribe for the latest music videos, performances, and more!Tommy's new album "From This Moment On" available n. Ward's case was the focus of the Netflix documentary "The Innocent Man, " which was released in 2018. 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 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. In a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project, the author discussed their fates. The state court of criminal appeals voted unanimously to reinstate Tommy Ward's murder conviction. 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! Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. 2022 Reader's Choice Winners . 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. Fontenot's case was picked up by The Innocence Project in 2011, but there's . Courtesy. 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. "Tommy is the epitome of great music. He is now 58 years old and says he will not admit guilt even if it means improving his chances at parole. Oklahoma Attorney General's Office Appeals Release Of Tommy Ward. The Oklahoma attorney generals office, which appealed Inges order, declined to comment on Thursdays ruling. 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. Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to receive a fair trial. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna "Denice" Haraway. He is currently serving time at the Dick Conner Correctional Center in Hominy in Oklahoma. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna Denice Haraway. The Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. 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. Oklahomas Court of Criminal Appeals, however, argued that the district court had abused its discretion in that instance. 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.. 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'. 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. 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. Fontenots and Wards attorneys did not respond to requests for comment. Ward and Fontenot were both granted a retrial a few years later, and again found guilty of Haraway's death. Instead, she had died from a gunshot wound. Please refer to our. 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. Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to receive a fair trial. Heres a link to the decision, Mark Barrett & The Center on Wrongful Convictions tweeted, with the legal documents confirming the move attached. Ward was featured in the Netflix. A spokeswoman for Attorney General John OConnor declined to comment on the pending cases. She doesnt believe he could be given a fair trial after more than 30 years. 7726 5241 Dial by your location +1 346 248 7799 US Are allowed finish! 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. Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. 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. But the men quickly recanted and have claimed for decades that police coerced them to say they killed Haraway. Position: WR Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 College: Rutgers Hometown: Canton, PA High School: Canton HS Tommy Ward has been in prison for 35 years and was supposed to be released today after a judge dismissed Ward's murder conviction. Fontenot was sentenced to death again but Ward was sentenced to life in prison, according to The Oklahoman. The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. 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. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Want to support our mission to hold powerful people accountable, give a voice to the voiceless, and shine a light on darkness in Oklahoma? 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. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the judges ruling last year, saying that, Almost no evidence connected him to the crime other than his own videotaped confession, a confession that rang false in almost every particular., The appeals court said Fontenot has brought forth new evidence that is sufficient to unlock the actual innocence gateway and to allow his substantive claims to be heard on the merits. When you read their briefs, they dont take issue with the fact that this information was withheld from him. Share 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. Thomas Ward, known to the public as Tommy Ward, was convicted in 1999 of the 1984 murder of Donna Denice Haraway in Ada, Oklahoma. So where are the two men now, more than 30 years later? SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER, FIRST TAKE, 'The Innocent Man': Netflix Sets December Launch for Docuseries Based on John Grisham Book. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. Barrett noted that the appeals court ordered the lower court to consider an additional claim regarding new evidence discovered in 2019. The judge also called the evidence against Ward circumstantial and said nearly all of the details in his confession were inaccurate. Ward remains in prison as the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals weighs his case. Heres a link to the decision https://t.co/21UQag7LEi, Tommy Ward: The Innocent Man (@WardInnocentMan) December 19, 2020. And Mr. Fontenot has also established that evidence suppressed by the State prior to his new trial in 1988 led to a violation of his constitutional right to due process., More:Human remains found, Oklahoma white supremacist leader might be connected. Justices may determine before the courts term ends this summer whether to review the case. Fontenot. Since the age of 16, Ward has had the opportunity to work alongside industry veterans and legends. Timmy Ward gamelogs for the 2022 season. 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. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, A judge reversed the conviction of Thomas Ward, known to the public as Tommy Ward, in 2020, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile, Tommy Ward in the 2018 Netflix docuseries The Innocent Man'.