Tyrone Day, one other wrongly accused and imprisoned Black man, has been exonerated and is now a free man.
Based on the Innocence Venture, Day spent greater than 1 / 4 of a century in jail for a criminal offense he didn’t commit and was launched after being exonerated. In 1990, a then-19-year-old Day was convicted of a 1989 sexual assault of a girl in South Dallas. He has at all times proclaimed his innocence all through the years.
“I wish to thank the Dallas County Conviction Integrity Unit for bringing this to a conclusion. It has been a protracted, arduous journey for my household and me, however I by no means misplaced religion that my innocence can be confirmed,” mentioned Day.
“Immediately, I’m centered on my household and my ardour for sustainable farming. I used to be born and raised in South Dallas, and the chance to convey contemporary produce right here, the place it’s scarce, and practice the following technology of farmers is so significant to me.”
Day believed that if he have been convicted at trial, he would face a life sentence and, based mostly on the recommendation of his legal professional, determined to simply accept a plea deal. He expressed his innocence to his legal professional however was informed that he would possible be launched on parole after 4 years in jail if he pleaded responsible. Inserting religion in his legal professional and realizing the opposite possibility was life in jail, he accepted the plea.
He was then sentenced to 40 years in jail. He served practically 26 years in jail earlier than being launched on parole and required to register for all times as a intercourse offender.
The Dallas County District Lawyer’s Workplace Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) started one other investigation into the crime. A DNA check cleared Day from being on the scene of the reported assault and recognized two different suspects as a substitute. The investigation additionally discovered the lady who was attacked by no means noticed Day’s face when she recognized him as considered one of her attackers. The sufferer recognized him because the assailant as a result of an analogous hat he had been carrying.
“This case is one other instance of how wrongful convictions might be corrected when a prosecutor’s workplace works with Innocence Venture attorneys to search out the reality,” mentioned Gary Udashen of the Innocence Venture of Texas, one of many attorneys who represented Day.
“The work of Dallas County District Lawyer John Creuzot, in addition to Conviction Integrity Unit Chief Cynthia Garza and her employees, was important to justice being achieved for Tyrone Day.”
After the previous prisoner was launched, he returned to his hometown of South Dallas and has been the system supervisor and lead horticulturist at Restorative Farms, which he helped discovered.
