DANIEL HOTZCLAW'S REIGN OF TERROR ENDS: BLACK WOMEN MATTER IN 2016

#‎danielholtzclaw‬

DANIEL HOTZCLAW'S REIGN OF TERROR ENDS:

BLACK WOMEN MATTER IN 2016.

WHAT TOOK SO LONG??

~ Victims describe assaults by convicted ex-Oklahoma City cop Daniel Holtzclaw

One of the women assaulted by former Oklahoma City police officer Daniel Holtzclaw said she feared for her life when he pulled her over last year and forced her to perform a sex act on him.

"In my mind, all I could think of was he was going to shoot me, he was going to kill me," Jannie Ligons told reporters at a news conference Friday. "I kept begging, 'Sir, don't make me do this, don't make me do this, sir. Please. You're going to shoot me.'

"All I could see was my life flashing before my eyes and the holster on his right side," said Ligons, a grandmother whose daughters stood beside her.

Holtzclaw told her he wasn't going to shoot her, but he made her perform oral sodomy in June 2014, Ligons said.

"All I can say is I was a victim, I was traumatized, I went to therapy, I had a stroke behind this," she said.
"I was innocent, and he just picked the wrong lady to stop that night," she added.

Ligons later went to police and media outlets with the first complaint against Holtzclaw, she said. Investigators later found a total of 13 alleged victims, all African-American.

She was also one of two victims who addressed the media a day after a jury found Holtzclaw guilty of 18 of the 36 charges he faced, including four counts of rape in the first degree and four counts of forced oral sodomy.

Ligons has a pending federal civil lawsuit against Holtzclaw and the city of Oklahoma City, filed on behalf of several victims.

She accused Holtzclaw of sexual assault and violating her state constitutional rights, and accused the city of negligence.

Raped while handcuffed to bed

Shandegreon "Sade" Hill told reporters that Holtzclaw pulled her over in December 2013, and she was later taken to a hospital on the other side of town. Once there, Holtzclaw raped her while she was handcuffed to a hospital bed.

"No nurses, nobody came to check on me," Hill said. "Me being in the room with the police, not expecting to get violated the way I did, the way I was done, I just couldn't even believe it. I was speechless. I was scared.

"I felt like I was in survivor mode, so I had to do what he was making me do," Hill added, with her parents beside her.

Hill has filed a state civil lawsuit against Holtzclaw and Oklahoma City. She came forward as a victim after reading a news item about Holtzclaw on Facebook last year, she said.

'Where is the national outcry for their justice?'

The jury deliberated for more than 40 hours before reaching its verdict late Thursday.

For about six months, Holtzclaw preyed on women -- all African-American -- in one of Oklahoma's poorest neighborhoods, exploiting his police badge to intimidate them into keeping quiet.

Prosecutors say the Oklahoma City officer selected his victims based on their criminal histories, figuring their drug or prostitution records would undermine any claims they might make against him.

Then, he would subject them to assaults that escalated from groping to oral sodomy and rape.

On Thursday, his 29th birthday, Holtzclaw rocked back and forth in his chair, sobbing, as the judge read the verdict.

On Friday, Holtzclaw was under suicide watch in the Oklahoma County jail, and a sheriff's deputy or detention officer was sitting outside his cell to monitor him, Sheriff John Whetsel told CNN affiliate KFOR.

Attorney Benjamin Crump, who is representing some of the victims in civil litigation against the city, criticized the national media for not covering the trial in which the victims were "poor, black women."

"Where is the national outcry for their justice?" asked Crump, who has also represented the families of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown. Martin, a black teenager, was fatally shot by George Zimmerman in Florida. Zimmerman was acquitted of murder charges in 2013.

Brown was killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014.

Crump said other women had earlier called police about Holtzclaw, so "we need to find out how aggressive they (police) were" in their investigation.

Oklahoma City NAACP President Garland Pruitt said is waiting until Holtzclaw's sentencing in January to see if justice will be served. He said "the system has a reputation of not being fair."

"Don't let this be the only time that you come forward when people of color confront you with a situation that is not always favorable to your so-called dialect," Pruitt told the media.

More than 250 years of prison recommended

The jurors recommended a total of 263 years of prison time for Holtzclaw's crimes. Formal sentencing is set for next month.

"We're going to ask the judge to make sure that this defendant never sees the light of day," District Attorney David Prater said. "And we're going to ask him to run consecutive, every count."

Holtzclaw was a former star linebacker on the Eastern Michigan University football team with a degree in criminal justice.

His ruthless scheme started to unravel after one woman told authorities he had assaulted her during a traffic stop in June 2014.

In the months that followed, investigators pieced together the horrifying scale of his pattern of abuse.

He was fired from the force in January after an internal investigation.

"Your offenses committed against women in our community constitute the greatest abuse of police authority I have witnessed in my 37 years as a member of this agency," Oklahoma City Police Chief Bill Citty wrote in the termination letter, according to CNN affiliate KFOR.

Holtzclaw's trial began in early November and was criticized by activists after an all-white jury was chosen to decide on crimes committed against black women. Protesters repeatedly gathered outside.

Holtzclaw, whose father is white and mother is Japanese, is identified as "Asian or Pacific Islander" by court records.

17-year-old raped on mother's porch

Thirteen women accusing him of sexual assault testified in the trial.

"I didn't think anyone would believe me. I'm a black female," one accuser said in court, according to The Oklahoman newspaper. Another said Holtzclaw told her would get rid of a drug charge against her if she cooperated with him.

The assaults took place in range of places, including in his police car. One young woman, only 17 at the time, was raped on her mother's front porch.

"He didn't choose CEOs or soccer moms; he chose women he could count on not telling what he was doing," the prosecution said in its closing statement this week.

The defense questioned the credibility of Holtzclaw's accusers, arguing some of them were high when the purported assaults took place. It also challenged the validity of DNA evidence.

Prater, the district attorney, said that the jurors' decision not to convict the former police officer on half of the counts against him didn't necessarily mean they didn't believe some of the women.

"It may mean that we didn't meet our burden (of proof) in those counts," he said.

Police department: 'Justice was served'

Holtzclaw, whose father is a police lieutenant on another force, waived his right to testify.

The Oklahoma City Police Department welcomed the verdict against its former employee.

"We are satisfied with the jury's decision and firmly believe justice was served," it said.

Some women gathered outside the Oklahoma County Courthouse celebrated Holtzclaw's conviction by mockingly singing "Happy Birthday," KFOR reported.

But others, including one of the victims' mothers, said they were waiting for the formal sentencing before deciding whether justice had been done.

Post Sources: CNN, LA Times, YouTube

William J. Lynn Convicted Of Catholic Church Child Sex Abuse Ring Cover Up! Another Pennsylvania Pedophile!

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Cardinal’s Aide Is Found Guilty in Abuse Case

Msgr. William J. Lynn, a former cardinal’s aide, was found Guilty Friday of Endangering Children, becoming the first senior official of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States convicted of covering up sexual abuses by priests under his supervision.

The 12-member jury acquitted Monsignor Lynn, of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, of conspiracy and a second count of endangerment after a trial that prosecutors and victims rights groups called a turning point in the abuse scandals that have shaken the Catholic Church.

The single Guilty verdict was widely seen as a victory for the district attorney’s office, which has been investigating the archdiocese aggressively since 2002, and it was hailed by victim advocates who have argued for years that senior church officials should be held accountable for concealing evidence and transferring predatory priests to unwary parishes.

Monsignor Lynn, 61, sat impassively as the jury foreman announced the verdicts, but relatives behind him were in tears. Judge M. Teresa Sarmina of the Common Pleas Court revoked his bail, and the monsignor stood up, removed his clerical jacket and was led by sheriff’s deputies to a holding cell area. His conviction, on the 13th day of deliberations, could result in a prison term of three-and-a-half to seven years; sentencing is set for Aug. 13.

The trial sent a sobering message to church officials and others overseeing children around the country. “I think that bishops and chancery officials understand that they will no longer get a pass on these types of crimes,” said Nicholas P. Cafardi, a professor of law at Duquesne University, a canon lawyer and frequent church adviser. “Priests who sexually abuse youngsters and the chancery officials who enabled it can expect criminal prosecution.”

The three-month trial cast a harsh light on the top leadership of the archdiocese, especially Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua, whom Monsignor Lynn advised. Archbishop of Philadelphia from 1988 to 2003, he died in January, but his name was invoked frequently during the testimony. Monsignor Lynn’s own lawyer told the jury that “in this trial, you have seen the dark side of the church.”

The revelations of sexual abuse and seeming official indifference have tormented an archdiocese that was long known for imperious leaders and an insular camaraderie among its priests. It has also been costly: the financially ailing archdiocese said recently that legal fees and internal investigations spurred by the abuse cases had cost $11.6 million since early 2011.

Cardinal Bevilacqua and his aides, the prosecutors argued, sought to avoid scandal and costly lawsuits at almost any price, putting the reputation of the archdiocese ahead of protecting vulnerable children.

The archdiocese issued a conciliatory statement on Friday, saying that “the lessons of the last year have made our church a more vigilant guardian of our people’s safety,” and offering a “heartfelt apology to all victims of clerical abuse.”

Monsignor Lynn served as secretary for clergy for the 1.5 million-member archdiocese from 1992 to 2004, recommending priest assignments and investigating abuse complaints. Prosecutors presented a flood of evidence that Monsignor Lynn had not acted strongly to keep suspected molesters away from children, let alone to report them to law enforcement.

But the length of the jurors’ deliberations and the mixed verdict showed the difficulty of placing criminal blame on one church official. The jurors also wrestled with the definition of conspiracy, and with the question of criminal intent on the part of Monsignor Lynn, who presented himself as an affable man who tried his best. Nevertheless, the Philadelphia district attorney, R. Seth Williams, said Friday that the verdict had sent a lesson to the nation. “This monumental case will change the way business is done in many institutions,” he said.

Monsignor Lynn’s lawyers are expected to appeal.

Victims advocates said that they hoped the conviction would embolden prosecutors in other states to investigate senior church officials, and predicted that it would lead to more victim lawsuits.

“The guilty verdict sends a strong and clear message that shielding and enabling predator priests is a heinous crime that threatens families, communities and children, and must be punished as such,” said Barbara Dorris, of Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests.

But such proceedings may often be limited, legal experts said, by statutes of limitations.

The prosecutors in this case faced just such a hurdle. A second priest, the Rev. James J. Brennan, 49, was tried with Monsignor Lynn, charged with attempted rape and endangerment of a youth, but the defense challenged the accuser’s credibility.

To convict, the jury had to find that Father Brennan had not only abused that boy but continued to put children at risk over subsequent years of ministry. The prosecutors were unable to find later victims. The jury said it was deadlocked on the two counts against Father Brennan, and Judge Sarmina declared a mistrial on those charges.

Monsignor Lynn’s defense hinged on his claim that he had tried to curb abuses, but that only the cardinal had the authority to remove priests. One crucial piece of evidence was a list drawn up in 1994 by Monsignor Lynn of some three dozen active priests who had been credibly accused of sex abuses. Before the trial began, a lawyer for the archdiocese turned over to the court a frayed folder including a copy of the list, saying it had been found in a locked safe.

Prosecutors called it a smoking gun. One of those named in 1994 as “guilty of sexual misconduct with minors” was the former Rev. Edward V. Avery, whose continued tenure in ministry was at the heart of Monsignor Lynn’s trial. Mr. Avery, now 69, spent six months in a church psychiatric center in 1993 after an abuse episode, and doctors said he should be kept away from children. But Monsignor Lynn allowed him to live in a parish rectory.

In 1999, Mr. Avery undressed with a 10-year-old altar boy, told him that God loved him and had him engage in oral sex. Mr. Avery pleaded guilty to the assault just before the trial began and was sentenced to prison.

In 2002, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops adopted a national “zero-tolerance” policy, pledging to remove any priest facing credible accusations. But serious lapses have occurred, including in Philadelphia, where a grand jury in 2011 asserted that as many as 37 priests with past accusations remained active in ministry.

Last summer Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, then the head of the Denver Archdiocese, took over in Philadelphia, and in May he announced the removal of five priests named in the grand jury report. Three others were cleared and investigations continue into other cases.

The bishop of the diocese in Kansas City, Mo., Robert W. Finn, is awaiting trial on misdemeanor charges of violating the state’s mandatory reporting requirement by allegedly waiting six months to tell the police that a priest had taken lewd photographs of girls.


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Sources: CNN, MSNBC, NY Times, Google Maps

Brian Banks Wants Restitution From California For Wrongful Conviction & Incarceration! I Concur!

Ex-football player, wrongly jailed for rape, wants money from state

A former high school football star who had his rape conviction dismissed plans no legal action against the woman who recanted the sexual assault claim she made 10 years ago.

But Brian Banks, 26, does plan to file a claim against the state, seeking money for his time behind bars, his attorney said.

"We do not plan on taking any legal action against Gibson," said Banks' attorney, Justin Brooks of the California Innocence Project, referring to Banks' accuser, Wanetta Gibson. "We do plan on filing a state claim for the $100 a day Brian is entitled to under State Law 4900 for every day he was wrongfully incarcerated."

Gibson was a high school sophomore when she accused Banks of raping her at Long Beach Poly High School. She and her family sued the school, receiving a $750,000 settlement, and Banks spent five years in prison after pleading no contest to forcible rape.

While a judge Thursday tossed out the rape charge, it remains far from certain if Gibson, 24, will face any consequences.

L.A. prosecutors have said they have no plans to charge her with making false accusations, saying it would be a tough case to prove.

Legal experts noted it could be difficult for the Long Beach school district and its insurer to get the settlement back.

Then there is the reality of Gibson’s life.

Court records suggest she has few assets: She received public assistance for a time and her children, ages 4 and 5, still do, according to two suits brought by the county in an attempt to collect child support. Gibson, who could not be reached for comment, was ordered initially to pay a $600 a month toward their support. But in the last year, county officials said she didn’t have to pay anything, citing a lack of income and employment.

According to Banks and his private investigator, Gibson has refused to admit to prosecutors that she lied to avoid having to return the money she and her family had won in court.

She also said she feared it would affect her relationship with her children, Banks' attorney alleged in court papers.

The statute of limitations for making a false claim is four years, but experts say it could restart when a previously hidden crime is discovered. In this case, Gibson testified in 2003 during Banks’ preliminary hearing but recanted her accusation last year. “No, he did not rape me,” she told Banks and his private investigator in a recorded conversation.

“The prosecution can say that we only learned last year that the crime of perjury occurred and therefore we are still within the statute of limitations,” Loyola Law professor Stan Goldman said.

The fact that Gibson was a juvenile when she initially made her accusation poses a potential complication, as does the fact that she has since recanted her recantation, but Goldman said the large monetary settlement she received might make charging her a priority to prosecutors trying to ensure the integrity of the criminal justice system.

Police in Long Beach said there is no official investigation into Gibson’s conduct, but officers are “reviewing the matter” and “will be in consultation with the district attorney’s office following the review,” spokeswoman Lisa Massacani said.







BRIAN BANKS IS FREE! HALLEJUAH!

Thanks to the Innocence Project, after 10 Years of HELL & a Ruined Reputation due to the lies of a Young BLACK Woman (Wanetta Gibson) who falsely accused him of RAPE, Brian Banks a Young BLACK Man finally walks FREE.


5 QUESTIONS:

1) Will the State of California pay Brian Banks Restitution for False Imprisonment & Wrongful Conviction?

2) Will his Accuser Wanetta Gibson be Indicted for Lying under Oath to a Law Enforcement Officer?

3) Will the NFL give Brian Banks an Opportunity to relive his Dream of trying out for the NFL Draft?

4) How many more Wrongfully Convicted BLACK Men would be Released from U.S. Prisons with the help of the Innocence Project if they had more Financial Resources?

5) Why hasn't Congress taken a Closer look at how Prosecutors Abuse the Plea Bargain Process in America?
Especially with BLACK & Latino Male Defendants??

The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled to Expand Defendant's Rights regarding the Plea Deal Process.
Now what about our Corrupt Congress???

GOD BLESS BRIAN BANKS & HIS FAMILY!
GOD BLESS THE INNOCENCE PROJECT!

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Brian Banks, former high school football star, asks for NFL shot

He was a high school football star in Long Beach, Calif., heading for a full scholarship at powerhouse USC when he was falsely accused of rape.

Now, exonerated after the alleged victim confessed she made up the whole story, Brian Banks has one goal: to play in the NFL.

In an appearance on the “Today” show Friday morning, the 26-year-old pleaded with any NFL coach watching the morning show to “give me an opportunity.”

“Let me show you what I can produce,” he said. “I think that any team that give me an opportunity will be really impressed with what I can do despite what I’ve been through these past 10 years.”

After being charged with rape and kidnapping in 2002, Banks took a plea deal on the advice of his lawyer to avoid spending the rest of his life in prison despite knowing he was innocent. He was sentenced to six years, ruining his football career and was forced to wear an ankle bracelet after being released on parole in 2008.

“It’s like branding,” he said on “Today”. “It’s like if someone put a brand on you: rapist.”

His accuser friended him on Facebook after he was released from prison with a strange request to make “bygones be bygones”.

With the help of a private investigator, she was recorded admitting she made the whole thing up and was reluctant to come forward because of a settlement she had reached with the school district.

With the help of the Innocence Project, Banks used the evidence to be exonerated — and on Thursday, a prosecutor moved that the case be dismissed.

Banks, video shows, broke into sobs.

“My only dream in the world was to just be free and to have the same opportunities as everyone here,” he told reporters.

Banks said he’s concentrating on moving forward with his life — and hasn’t thought about what happens to the woman who falsely accused him.

“I know it’s best for me to try and move forward in a positive manner for the betterment of me, it hurts no one but myself to hang on to the type of negative energy,” he said on “Today.”

He added he hopes that in the future, investigations will be thorough enough to avoid sending an innocent man to prison.

“I definitely feel that further investigations in cases like this are definitely necessary especially when it involves minors, children,” he said. “I think I was quick to be judged.”


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Sources: ABC News, Black Sports Online, CBS News, Innocence Project, LA Times, MSNBC, NY Daily News, Youtube

Ohio Police Seek Help Identifying Bodies Of 6 Women...Convicted Rapist Killed Them

Investigators try to ID bodies of 6 women. Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Coroner Frank Miller talks with Msnbc's Contessa Brewer and former FBI hostage negotiator Clint Van Zandt, as investigators try to identify the bodies of six women found in the home of a convicted rapist.

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Rapist arrested. Anthony Sowell had fled before police arrived to arrest him on new rape charges. NBC’s Lee Cowan reports.

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Sources: MSNBC, Google Maps