centurionseeking freedom for the innocent in prison

I am innocent.

Wayne and Nick have been friends since they were six. They wrestled and shared lunches as children.

As young men, they enlisted in the army together.

They never imagined that they would each spend 29 years in prison for

a crime they did not commit.

givesomeone their life backhe

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November 2015 issue seven

Dwayne LeBlanc has been imprisoned since 1994 for a New Orleans murder he didn’t commit. This October, he walked into a courtroom for the first time in over a decade, hoping to have his story finally told. During the proceedings, attorney Peter Camiel laid out the reasons why Dwayne deserves an evidentiary hearing because the State of Louisiana withheld evidence that would have proven Dwayne’s innocence. Seated in the courtroom that morning were Dwayne’s parents, Gilbert and Betty, and two of his brothers, Dwight and Leonard. The incarceration of a son or daughter takes a devastating toll on families, especially parents. In a futile attempt to make sense of it all, each assigns blame to the other, when all they are really feeling is extreme heartache. At the conclusion of the hearing, Dwayne’s family approached the defense table, hoping for a private moment with him before he went back to prison. But a bailiff stopped them in their tracks and ordered them out of the private area. That is when Orleans Parish District Judge Byron C. Williams quietly but firmly interjected. “Let them hug their baby.” In the embrace of his family, Dwayne broke down in tears. He later told CM, “What I’d experienced at court was very amazing. It was the very first time that my side of the story was ever told in open court. I guess that’s why I became so emotional after the hearing. All of you guys have done a job so well that there’s no words that can ever describe it.” Over a pot of homemade gumbo at Betty’s apartment that night, Gilbert recounted with almost photographic detail the arguments he heard in court that day. They know their son is innocent, and they have hope he will soon have a chance to enjoy a bowl of his Mom’s gumbo.

Prison photograph ofDwayne, his Mother and his twin brother, Dwight

Dwayne LeBlanc Gets to Hug his MomMa

centurions e e k i n g f r e e d o m f o r t h e i n n o c e n t s i n c e 1 9 8 0

1 0 0 0 H e r r o n t o w n R o a d . P r i n c e t o n . N J . 0 8 5 4 0c e n t u r i o n m i n i s t r i e s . o r g . 6 0 9 . 9 2 1 . 0 3 3 4

Johnny Briscoe had just become a father. He was sentenced to life in prison for a crime he did not commit. He lost hope. He broke off ties with his girl and his son. “This is no life for them, visiting a father who is never coming home,” said Briscoe.Centurion freed Johnny in 1996.He found the girl, married her, and got to attend his son’s wedding.

Kate Germond . Executive Director

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There is a Desmond Tutu quote that says: “You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.” This is our truth. All our lives are enriched and enlarged because of the people we serve. However, during this season when families come together, we are heartsick because not all of our members are able to come home yet. We ask that as you share meals with family and friends, you remember those imprisoned, and that you remember us as we steadfastly work to see them freed. They are our heartache and our constant reminder that we must keep pressing on despite judicial hurdles and setbacks. These fi ghts to vindicate the falsely convicted are fi erce battles and once free, our alliance with them is unbroken. Because there are no State agencies to provide housing, clothing, or food for an innocent person freed from prison: it is our job as their family to make sure these needs are met and that they are on solid footing as they navigate a new, completely foreign world. We know you have many worthy organizations to support, but we ask that you give generously to partner with us, so we can continue to rescue innocent people from their dark prisons. Our wish for you and yours is a healthy and happy 2016.

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C h e c k u s o u t

“I can’t waste time being angry. That’s another prison.”

Darryl Burton

24 years

Why I give

A l l C h a r g e s D r o p p e d ! ! !

Is Barry Beach Coming Home FOR GOOD??

Asapreacher,Istandweeklybeforemycongregationandproclaimagospelfullofhope,justice,andGod’slife-givingpower.Inmyfifteen-yearrelationshipwithCenturion,Ihavebeenblessedtowitnesstheincredibleperseveranceandpassionofateamthatgutsitouteverydayonbehalfofthewronglyimprisoned.Centurionisdefinedbylifegivinghope,aGodgivenvisionforjustice,andbeliefinaGodgivenpowerthatcanbringlifetothebrokensystemofcriminaljustice.Ipreachwithwords,atCenturionthegospelproclamationcomesintheworkthatsaveslives.Dave Davis,ministerNassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton,NJ

On October 2, the Connecticut Supreme Court dropped all charges against Richard Lapointe. 26 years. His new little friend, Sylvie met him outside the courtroom doors. Richard got a running hug and a hand colored piece of art from her.

Centurionthefirstorganizationtoworktofreethewronglyconvicted

since 1980

We certainly hope so!Montana’sGovernorBullockissettomakeadecisionanydayontheclemencyrequest.Barryiscautiouslyhopeful.Hehasnowservedoverthreedecadesforacrimehedidnotcommit.BarryBeachsupportershavemarched,petitioned,andprayedforhisrelease.TherewillbequiteacelebrationinMontanawhenBarrywalksoutofthoseprisondoors!

Left: Mark Schand (black shirt)with his familyBelow: Mark’s three boysMark Jr., Kiele, and Quinton

27 birthdays, 27 Christmases, 27 New Year’s celebrations, and countless moments and milestones. The detrimental effects caused by the grievous miscarriage of justice that was my father’s wrongful imprisonment were innumerable to me, to my brothers, and my family.

The emotional toll will forever be with me. Sometimes I could mask and hide how hurt I was, and other times I couldn’t conceal it. I recall my 10th birthday and one moment in particular. My aunt had baked me a cake. My mom offered me the BIGGEST slice and I left the room. I went into the den, because all I wanted to do was to humbly offer my Dad this large piece of cake, while secretly hoping he’d refuse so I could have it myself. But he wasn’t there for my 10th birthday, and he couldn’t say, “no son, you have it, it’s your day”. It broke me. I don’t remember crying so hard in my life.

There were constant reminders, because it seemed the questions about my father always came up. It was a dagger in my heart every time I had to explain where he was. I knew he was innocent, so I tried to explain. Eventually, I’d just say, “he lives in Boston”. I also knew that ‘living’ was a term I used loosely. I shouldn’t have had to exist under this shroud of shame by lying about where he was. The only solace I received was from visiting him.

My father basically had to raise his boys behind prison walls. We all longed for the visits. After I left, I was calculating the next time I’d get to see him. Years down the line, (after I matured, and had a child of my own, and truly understood the brevity of the situation), leaving after visiting with my Dad felt different. The sword that was once a wooden play toy, now felt real, sharp and double edged. I was still thrilled to see him but disappointed he could not cross the prison walls and come home with us. I envisioned my son having to actually experience the feelings I had carried as a child after leaving my Dad. I felt joy from the visit, but also pain that my son might never have his grandfather get in the car with us, and come home. I kept the faith (or at least I dreamed of my father’s exoneration), but the pain was real, and felt never ending some days.

27 Birthdays Without my Dad Mark Schand Jr.

Why does it take so long to free an innocent person?

Centurion is an investigative agency that receives 1700+ new requests for help each year. Every request gets answered. If the case appears to fit our criteria, we send the inmate a questionnaire. More than half of the requests are cases that do not fit our narrow criteria. The person seeking help must already be convicted of a rape or a murder that they had no part in whatsoever; that is our criteria. When the criteria is met, our case developer begins to gather police reports, court records, and appellate documents.(We have invested 6 months to 1 year and only 4%-5% move on.) At this point, the case is assigned to the next available volunteer. (Our volunteers are pretty extraordinary) They begin corresponding with the inmate to explore the claim of innocence and thoroughly review the case. Each life is as unique as each case is. There is no hard and

fast rule, no blueprint. Some cases are fully developed in a few months while others may take

years. U lt i m at e ly , d o w e b e l i e v e t h i s p e rs o n i s i n n o c e n t ? If the facts

line up and they believe it could be a good case for Centurion, they bring it to a round table. Eight to ten times a year, senior staff, investigators, our legal team, and the volunteers meet to discuss current cases, and to decide if this is a possible field investigation case for us. The decision must be unanimous. At some point an investigator, the Executive Director, and Legal Director visittheinmate to have a lengthy interview. At the end of the interview it is highly likely we will want to take on the case. We are often interviewing several people in the same time frame. Once an investigator is available, the investigation begins, and we treat each case as if the crime happened yesterday. We are searching for newly discovered evidence: a witness who lied, a witness no one knew about, lost or hidden evidence, and police reports. It takes 3-10 years to build a case when you are chasing the past. Along the way, we hire a lawyer to partner with us and give us another set of eyes. Once we have enough evidence for a solid case, our lawyer begins to gather affidavits and writes a brief to submit to the court. We are now hoping to be granted an evidentiary hearing or a new trial. (At this point we will often ask for bail if a state allows it.) If granted a hearing, after the hearing we are waiting again for the judge to decide if they find our evidence credible. (These cases are much more complicated and unique than the legal books show.) An evidentiary hearing can take anywhere from 4 days to 2 months. We wait several months, sometimes 1-2 years for a decision. Judges are under no obligation to move fast. We hope we win. We hope that the prosecutor does not appeal. We hope that if they do appeal, they drop the charges before the new trial date. If we lose, we appeal. We search for new issues to raise.

We work harder to make the case winable. “Everyone doing this work is passionate. It’s often a long fierce battle too complicated to even address. And yes, it takes a long time to free an innocent person. Too long.”~ Kate Germond, Executive Director

Thereisnoeasyanswertothisquestion.

God didn’t get me out of prison to act crazy. He let me out of prison to do something. To help people. To serve and do what Mr. McCloskey and Ms. Kate do. I’m asking everyone to serve somebody cause there is always someone who needs help.”

We all have to serve. That’s why we’re here.

“I do volunteer work at rescue missions. I tutor GED programs. I give out lunches and help feed the homeless.

Do One Good Thing TodayWillie Green

25 years wrongfully convicted

Mark your calendars 2016Centurion is proud to announce our first exhibitOctober 8-22 at Arts Council of Princeton

(2 weeks of events)screenings . panel discussions . art

case updatesLarry Walker had never been charged with a crime of any kind until the testimony of an uncertain eyewitness got him sent to prison for life for a 1983 Philadelphia murder. CM’s efforts in the field have prompted the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office to reopen the case. Both the DA’s office and the victim’s family are open to the idea of Larry’s innocence, and we remain hopeful that his 32-year (and counting) nightmare will soon be over.Shawn Henning and Ralph Birch were convicted of a 1989 murder in Connecticut and are in a Habeas hearing for the next two months.Michael Shannon was convicted in 2011 of a 2004 murder he did not commit in New Orleans. We will be filing a petition on his behalf within the next three months.Jules Letemps is scheduled for a retrial in February. Jules is a Haitian man, who was in the country legally when he was accused, and convicted in a Florida courtroom of being the assailant of a rape victim. We brought forward a serological result that excluded him as a rapist. This was a single eye-witness identification case for which he was convicted and sentenced in 1989 to four life sentences, after a one-day trial.

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54 innocent men & women

f r e e d

Help us bring home more fathers,more sisters, more sons, more mothers...

Wrongful convictions don’t only effect the person in prison. Families suffer and struggle.

Imagine being arrested for something you did not do. Imagine being sentenced to life in prison. Imagine being helplessly caught in the criminal system.

It happens more than you know.

I am innocent.