'The Innocence Files' details Thomas Haynesworth’s settlement with the state of Virginia. On March 21, 2011 (his 46th birthday), Haynesworth was granted parole after semen recovered from one of his supposed victims was retested and matched to serial rapist Leon Davis — who is currently serving multiple life sentences for various crimes.
What happened to Thomas Haynesworth?
Thomas Haynesworth (born March 21, 1965) is an African-American man from Richmond, Virginia, who served 27 years in state prison as a result of four wrongful convictions for crimes for which he was exonerated in 2011. Haynesworth was arrested in Richmond at the age of 18 in 1984 after a woman identified him as her attacker.
Who is John Haynesworth and why was he arrested?
Haynesworth was arrested in Richmond at the age of 18 in 1984 after a woman identified him as her attacker. He was convicted of four violent rapes in the East End of the city. He was sentenced to a total of 84 years in prison. Haynesworth maintained his innocence throughout the years of incarceration.
When was John Haynesworth fully exonerated?
On December 6, 2011, Haynesworth was fully exonerated. Haynesworth is one of eight people whose story is featured in the Innocence Project-inspired Netflix docuseries “ The Innocence Files ” now available for streaming. Help us advocate for the innocent by sharing cases from the Innocence Project.
How much did John Haynesworth get paid for ‘the innocence of George W Bush’?
Unlike the previous five episodes of the Netflix series, it was never revealed how much Haynesworth received in compensation for his ordeal. The Innocence Project estimates that his payment will be approximately $37,000 for each year Haynesworth spent in prison. This is well below the $50,000 per-year federal standard.
What is Thomas Haynesworth doing now?
Haynesworth has now worked in the Attorney General's office for more than nine years, rising from the mailroom to administration. Now, he's the deputy of operations.
When was Thomas Haynesworth convicted?
On July 12, 1984, he was convicted of the January 3 rape after the woman identified Haynesworth in court. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was convicted on August 10, 1984, of the January 30 attack. At trial, the victim identified him and the biological evidence was the same blood type as Haynesworth's.
What is Chester Hollman doing now?
Chester Hollman, spent 28 years in prison after wrongful conviction, to get $9.8M from Philly. Chester Hollman was exonerated and released in 2019. Chester Hollman settles with the City of Philadelphia for $9.8 million.
What was Thomas crime?
A review of Thomas's criminal history revealed that he was arrested a number of times between 1955 and 1978. His criminal convictions consist of multiple burglaries, many of which involved sexual assaults of his victims.
How much money do you get if you are wrongfully imprisoned in PA?
Pennsylvania does not currently provide financial compensation to exonerated individuals. Thirty-six states, including Washington, D.C., have some type of payment to exonerated individuals. Those who testified during the hearing included Dr.
Did Alfred Dewayne Brown get his compensation?
Alfred Dewayne Brown Awarded Compensation for Wrongful Imprisonment. On December 18, 2020, it was ruled that Alfred Dewayne Brown will be awarded compensation for his wrongful imprisonment, five years after Catholic Law alumnus Brian Stolarz '98 helped to get him released.
Did Chester Hollman receive a settlement?
City of Philadelphia to settle wrongful conviction case for NSB client Chester Hollman. NSB has won a $9.8 million pre-filing settlement against the City of Philadelphia for client Chester Hollman. Mr. Hollman spent 28 years wrongfully imprisoned for a 1991 murder he did not commit before he was exonerated in 2019.
Who is Thomas Haynesworth and did he receive a settlement?
The nine-episode series takes a behind-the-scenes look at how eight innocent people were wrongly convicted of crimes they didn't commit.
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However, as shown in The Innocence Files, Haynesworth is now friends with Janet Burke, one of the victims who mistakenly identified him as her rapist.
Who is Thomas Haynesworth?
One of those former inmates is Thomas Haynesworth from Richmond, Va. At 18 years old, he was charged with rape, sodomy, abduction, use of a firearm, and attempted robbery after multiple sexual assault victims identified the black teen as their attacker. Article continues below advertisement.
Did Haynesworth fight for exoneration?
Despite his proven innocence, Haynesworth had to fight for full exoneration in order to have his name taken off the registered sex offenders list. That moment finally came nearly nine months after his release.
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Who is Thomas Haynesworth? What happened to him?
Thomas Haynesworth was wrongfully incarcerated when he was just 18-years-old.
Where is Thomas Haynesworth now? Did he receive a settlement?
Unlike the previous five episodes of The Innocence Files, how much Haynesworth received in compensation from was not revealed.
How long was Thomas Haynesworth in prison?
Thomas Haynesworth (born March 21, 1965) is a resident of Richmond, Virginia, who served 27 years in state prison as a result of four wrongful convictions for crimes for which he was exonerated in 2011.
How much did the Haynesworth case cost?
The General Assembly passed a bill in 2012 to pay Haynesworth compensation for his wrongful convictions and lengthy incarceration, amounting to a total of $1 million in a lump sum payment, two types of annuities, and tuition at a community college. The legislators wanted to help him make his way in his life.
Why did Haynesworth apologize?
He rejected advice from fellow inmates, who told him to apologize for the purported crimes when he appeared before the parole board, in order to increase his chances of an early release. While imprisoned, Haynesworth earned his GED and studied auto mechanics, welding, and masonry. He wrote letters to local newspapers, law students, and 60 Minutes, pleading for help to appeal his case.
What did Cuccinelli say about the case?
Cuccinelli said that the case was a reminder to him and to prosecutors that "the system isn't perfect, and neither are we."
How long did it take to get exonerated from the Innocence Project?
This is the very first time in the history of the Innocence Project where the attorney general and two local prosecutors joined us in seeking an exoneration, yet it nevertheless took nine months, two trips to the Court of Appeals and six judges to ensure the relief that was obvious to everyone.
What did Cuccinelli say about Haynesworth?
Cuccinelli also said of Haynesworth, "His composure, dignity and faithfulness are an absolute witness to me. I am an admirer here."
When was Haynesworth released from prison?
It approved him for parole. On the morning of March 21, 2011 (his 46th birthday), Haynesworth was released from prison on parole. Guards awakened him around 1 am ET to inform him of his release, and other inmates gave him a birthday card to take home. He walked out of the prison, Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia, around 11 am, carrying all his belongings (a television and a single garbage bag with the rest of his belongings). He was welcomed by his mother and sisters, along with other family members. His mother, Dolores Haynesworth, said, "He's home. It's still hard to believe. I'm holding him, but it's still hard to believe." Haynesworth said, "I always believed this day would come," and added, "I didn't think it would take 27 years."
When was Haynesworth exonerated?
On December 6, 2011, Haynesworth was fully exonerated.
Who was the perpetrator of the Haynesworth case?
While there was no physical evidence for his two remaining convictions, DNA testing proved that Davis was also the perpetrator in the case for which Haynesworth was acquitted.
When was Haynesworth released from prison?
On March 21, 2011, Haynesworth was granted parole and was released from prison after serving 27 years. The release was conditioned, however, on his abiding by numerous restrictions, such as a curfew and a requirement that he wear an ankle monitor.
Who was responsible for the rape of Haynesworth?
The Richmond and Henrico Commonwealth’s Attorneys conducted an extensive investigation and eventually concluded that Davis, not Haynesworth, was responsible for all of the crimes attributed to Haynesworth. These crimes matched the same modus operandi as the other rapes committed by Davis. Haynesworth also passed polygraph tests about both of the cases that were administered in the presence of the respective Commonwealth’s Attorneys.
Was Thomas Haynesworth convicted of rape?
Thomas Haynesworth was wrongfully convicted of multiple counts of rape in the winter of 1984, In 2011, Haynesworth was exonerated with a Writ of Actual Innocence Based on Non-Biological Evidence. The real perpetrator was identified through a DNA hit to evidence from two of the crimes.
How much did Thomas Haynesworth get paid for his crimes?
Haynesworth was awarded about a million dollars in damages for his wrongful imprisonment, which comes out to about $37,000 for each year he spent in prison. This is less than the federal standard of $50,000 per year. Thomas Haynesworth after his release from prison. The Washington PostGetty Images.
What happened to Haynesworth?
He was accused of sexual assault and served a 27-year sentence until he was eventually cleared of all charges. Here's what happened to his case, and where Haynesworth is now. Netflix's new docuseries, The Innocence Files, is shedding light on how shockingly easy it is for people to be convicted of crimes they didn't commit.
How old was Haynesworth when he was raped?
On February 5, 1984, 18-year-old Haynesworth was walking to a grocery store when a woman who had been a victim of an abduction and rape a month earlier called the police and named him as her attacker.
What did Ken Cuccinelli offer Haynesworth?
Haynesworth also gives talks to at-risk youth and lobbies for justice reform.
Was Haynesworth arrested?
Haynesworth was arrested , and four other women that had been assaulted in a similar manner around the same time picked him out of a lineup. While there was no evidence that placed Haynesworth at any of the crime scenes, he was convicted based on the testimony of Janet Burke, one of the victims.
Who was responsible for the case of Haynesworth?
In the end, Richmond and Henrico Commonwealth’s Attorneys concluded that Leon Davis was responsible for all of the cases Haynesworth had served time for.
Was Haynesworth a mistaken identity?
Haynesworth always maintained his innocence, and there were points during the trial where it was clear that this was a case of mistaken identity. One victim who was 5'8 said that her attacker was taller than her, and another testified that she believed the assailant was at least 5'10, but Haynesworth is only 5'6.
When was Thomas Haynesworth arrested?
On February 5, 1984, Thomas Haynesworth, 18, was arrested after the victim of the January 27 attempted robbery saw him walking near a market and told police he was her attacker.
When was Haynesworth released from prison?
Haynesworth was released from prison on March 15, 2011.
What happened in 1984 in Virginia?
From January 3 to February 1, 1984, five women were the victims of sexual assaults or attempted sexual assaults in an area known as East Richmond, which overlaps the city of Richmond, Virginia and Henrico County. On January 3, a 20-year-old woman was raped at knifepoint in a day-care center ...
Was Haynesworth in custody?
Although Haynesworth was in custody, rapes continued in the same neighborhood. At least 10 women reported being attacked by a young African American man, who in some of the crimes referred to himself as “Black Ninja.”
When was the woman sodomized?
On January 21, an 18-year-old woman was sodomized at knifepoint near an East Richmond grocery store. On January 27, a man with a knife approached a woman outside her home and demanded money and sex. When the woman went inside the home, she slammed the door shut and locked it, then called police as the attacker fled.
Who was the 12th person to be exonerated by DNA testing?
In 2018, Roy Watford III became the 12th person to be exonerated by DNA testing of evidence in Burton’s files. In 2019, Winston Scott became the 13th person exonerated by DNA evidence retained in Burton’s files. – Maurice Possley. Report an error or add more information about this case. Posting Date: Before June 2012.
Did Haynesworth work for Cuccinelli?
By then, Haynesworth had been hired to work in Cuccinelli’s office. Despite the unanimous agreement of the prosecutors and attorney general, the Court of Appeals, in July, asked for further briefing. On December 6, 2011, the full Court of Appeals granted writs of innocence in both cases.
How long was Thomas Haynesworth in jail?
RICHMOND — A Virginia appeals court declared Thomas Haynesworth an innocent man Tuesday, clearing his name and acknowledging that he spent 27 years behind bars for rapes he did not commit.
What did Haynesworth study?
For years, Haynesworth languished in prison. He earned his GED and studied auto mechanics, welding and masonry.
How old was Haynesworth when he was arrested?
Haynesworth was 18 when he was arrested as he headed to the market to buy groceries for Sunday dinner. A woman who had been attacked days earlier spotted him and told a police officer that he was the assailant.
How far has Virginia come in allowing convicts to argue their innocence?
Historically, prisoners were barred from introducing new evidence more than three weeks after sentencing, and in the 1990s, then-Attorney General Mary Sue Terry (D) famously said, “Evidence of innocence is irrelevant.” But when DNA testing resulted in hundreds of exonerations nationwide, it prompted Virginia lawmakers to open the door for courts to reconsider guilt based first on genetic evidence and later on other evidence, such as recanted testimony, fingerprints or ballistics.
When did the DNA case turn into a turning point?
A turning point came in 2005 when the exonerations of five wrongly convicted men prompted then-Gov. Mark R. Warner to order a sweeping review of thousands of cases with DNA evidence. Haynesworth’s case was among them.
Who hired Haynesworth to work in his mailroom?
As Cuccinelli, who had hired Haynesworth to work in his mailroom, announced the ruling in an emotional news conference, dozens of his staff members broke into applause and gave Haynesworth a standing ovation.
Who was the attacker in the Haynesworth case?
Haynesworth’s attorneys were convinced that Davis, who lived in the same neighborhood and resembled Haynesworth, was the sole attacker. But in the two remaining cases, there was no genetic evidence to test.
Overview
Thomas Haynesworth (born March 21, 1965) is a resident of Richmond, Virginia, who served 27 years in state prison as a result of four wrongful convictions for crimes for which he was exonerated in 2011.
Haynesworth was arrested in Richmond at the age of 18 in 1984 after a woman identified him as her attacker. He was convicted of four violent rapes in the East End of the city. He was sentence…
Description of attacks
Over the course of four weeks in the winter of 1984, five women were assaulted in a series of attacks in and around the East End neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia. On January 3, 1984, a 20-year-old woman was raped at knifepoint near the daycare center where she worked. On January 21, an 18-year-old woman was sodomized at knifepoint near a grocery store. On January 27, a woman was approached outside her home by a man demanding money and sex; she locked her…
Arrest and prosecution
Given the locations and nature of the attacks, and the description of the attacker, police believed one man was responsible. On February 5, 1984, the victim of the January 27 attack saw Haynesworth, a young, African-American man, walking near a grocery store (where his mother had sent him to buy groceries) and, believing him to be her attacker, called the police. A police officer pulled up next to Haynesworth, and asked if he would allow a woman whose house was broken i…
Push for exoneration
In 2001, Virginia's General Assembly passed a law allowing inmates to ask for DNA tests at any time. Numerous persons were serving time who had not been able to use DNA in their trials. In 2002, voters passed a referendum to allow DNA evidence to be presented by convicted felons after their convictions - and after the 21-day period following conviction that was previously allowed in the law.
Release
Following the Virginia Supreme Court writ of innocence and Haynesworth's petition for writs in the other two cases, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell asked the state's parole board to review Haynesworth's case. It approved him for parole. On the morning of March 21, 2011 (his 46th birthday), Haynesworth was released from prison on parole. Guards awakened him around 1 am ET to inform him of his release, and other inmates gave him a birthday card to take home. He wal…
Push for writs of innocence in the Court of Appeals
Cuccinelli, the local prosecutors, and Haynesworth's lawyers petitioned the Court of Appeals of Virginia to grant a writ of innocence in the remaining two cases. Despite the unanimous agreement of the prosecutors and Cuccinelli (who, as attorney general, was the state's chief law enforcement officer), the court seemingly interpreted the new laws allowing for Haynesworth to make his case more strictly than the General Assembly intended, according to The New York Ti…
Full exoneration
On December 6, 2011, in a 6-4 decision, the Court of Appeals granted writs of innocence in the remaining two rape cases, fully exonerating Haynesworth.
Appearing alongside Cuccinelli and his attorneys at an emotional news conference following the ruling, Haynesworth said,
It's a blessing. There are a lot of people behind the scenes who believed in me. Twenty-seven ye…
See also
• List of wrongful convictions in the United States