Nov. 17 TEXAS: Deputies May Be Disciplined In Death Row Inmate's Escape---Other Jail Workers Could Be Punished Some deputies could be punished after a convicted murderer walked out of the Harris County Jail, KPRC Local 2 reported Wednesday. The Harris County Sheriff's Department's internal affairs investigation into Charles Victor Thompson's escape has been completed and department officials told KPRC Local 2 that command staff is reviewing disciplinary measures against a number of employees. Employees found at fault in Thompson's escape could be notified as early as Thursday. Thompson, 35, escaped the Harris County Jail Baker Street facility on Nov. 4 and was found 3 days later in Shreveport, La. Harris County Jail Baker Street Facility, downtown Houston Investigators said the door to the attorney meeting room was left unlocked, which allowed Thompson to get away. However, Fraternal Order Of Police Attorney Richard Cobb says the blame has been misplaced. "Their skirts will go untarnished on this whole thing and they'll let this all fall down on the deputy level," Cobb said. It is unclear if any jail supervisors could also be disciplined. A news conference that will announce the findings of the internal affairs investigation could happen as early as Monday, Nov. 21. (source: Click2Houston.com) *********************** Death row inmate claims he was mistakenly identified as killer Advocates for Texas death row inmate Tony Ford want the U-S Supreme Court to grant him a new trial. The defense claims 2 eyewitnesses misidentified Ford as the killer in a 1991 attack in El Paso. Ford faces execution December 7th in Huntsville. Ford has acknowledged driving Van Belton and another man to the Murillo family house so they could collect a drug debt. 2 men went to the home. An argument and gunfire broke out. 17-year-old Armando Murillo was killed. His mother, Myra Concepcion Murillo, was shot in the head and is permanently disabled. Lisa Murillo was wounded by 1 bullet. The men shot at Myra Magdalena -- but missed. Myra Magdalena identified Belton as one of the assailants because they knew each other from school. He was convicted of aggravated burglary. The other man, whom Ford claims was the gunman, hasn't been charged. Lisa Murillo identified Ford as the shooter. He was convicted in 1993 of capital murder and sentenced to death. El Paso District Attorney Jaime Esparza today said Ford was tried as the shooter and convicted as the shooter. The prosecutor also says the Murillo sisters have nothing to gain by misidentifying Ford. Esparza says there'd be no reason for them to identify him if he wasn't in the house. (source: Associated Press) CALIFORNIA: Man may face death penalty in 1994 killing A man arrested in Michigan and charged with murdering a Vista store owner 11 years ago was ordered yesterday to stand trial in what prosecutors say could become a death penalty case. Bryan Dammon Smith, 32, is accused in the June 7, 1994, slaying of 39-year-old Taysser El Farra, owner of the Buena Vista Market on South Santa Fe Drive. El Farra died of a gunshot wound. At the end of a 2-day hearing in which prosecutors outlined their case, San Diego Superior Court Judge Frank A. Brown ordered Smith to stand trial on a murder charge. Prosecutors also filed charges accusing Smith of committing a murder during a robbery, which could make Smith eligible for the death penalty if convicted. The District Attorney's Office will decide later whether it will seek Smith's execution or life in prison without the possibility of parole, possibly at an arraignment scheduled for Feb. 23. Deputy District Attorney Blaine Bowman said in an interview yesterday that Smith robbed the market and fired 2 shots at El Farra, one of which struck and killed him. On May 25, 1994, Smith robbed a sporting goods store in Oceanside, Bowman said. He asked the store owner if he could look at a semi-automatic handgun. When she produced the weapon he struck the 72-year-old woman over the head with it and took off, the prosecutor said. The stolen handgun was the same one used in the Vista robbery and slaying a few weeks later, Bowman said. The prosecutor said the Sheriff's Department has received information from anonymous callers after the killing, and recently new witnesses have come forward. Prosecutors filed charges against Smith on June 2. He was arrested in Warren, Mich., on June 14. He was being held yesterday without bail in San Diego County jail. Deputy Public Defender Kenneth Kaminski said in an interview yesterday that the only 2 people known to have had possession of the gun used in the slaying are the owner of the sporting goods store and a woman who turned the gun over to authorities. Kaminski said he would like to question a man one witness testified she heard planning the Vista robbery with Smith. That man, Kaminski said, was "conspicuously absent" from the hearing yesterday. (source: San Diego Union-Tribune) ************ Prison officials launch unusual attack on death row inmate As the battle over whether to spare the life of Crips co-founder and convicted murderer Stanley Tookie Williams grows, prison officials have initiated an unusual counterattack against a man who supporters believe has turned his life around behind bars. Before a celebrity-led effort begins to save him from a Dec. 13 execution, the people who have watched over Williams for 2 dozen years have questioned whether he's truly redeemed, claiming he's still calling the shots from death row for the Crips, one of the nation's most notorious gangs. The Corrections Department earlier this month posted a press release at its Web site about the upcoming execution. It gave biographical information about Williams, as well as a narrative about his crimes. In 1979, Williams shot and killed 4 people during two robberies in Los Angeles. "By 1994, having firmly entrenched himself as the leader of the Crips at San Quentin, he wielded his power as his lieutenants and other minions were dispatched to carry out his objectives," according to the release. Daniel Vasquez, who served as warden at San Quentin from 1983 to 1993 and wrote a letter supporting clemency for the last death row inmate executed - said he'd never seen such an inflammatory statement in a press release from the prison. "It's like they're trying to drum up business for death row," he said. The paragraph was removed a day after it was posted following a call from The Associated Press, but a San Quentin spokesman, speaking on behalf of the corrections agency, went even further in a subsequent interview. "When you look at the totality of what has been occurring that leads me to seriously question this man of peace," said Vernell Crittendon, who has worked at the prison nearly 30 years and regularly interacts with Williams and said he felt obligated to correct the inmate's public image. "A con always will say one thing to you while the whole time he has another agenda. I'm concerned that possibly this marketing that's going on ... leads the public to hear the words, but not to see that sleight of hand." Williams, 51, has gained international acclaim for writing children's books about the dangers of gang life. He's received several Nobel Prize nominations and he's attracted a cadre of celebrity supporters including actor Jamie Foxx, who played Williams in a television movie, actor-activist Mike Farrell and rapper Snoop Dogg, who's scheduled to appear at a rally Saturday outside the prison. Williams' death by lethal injection next month promises to be the highest profile execution in California since the death penalty was reinstated in 1978 and a brewing fight over clemency will end at the governor's desk. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has not spared anyone's life on death row, has not yet said whether he will schedule a clemency hearing. Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, called the correction department's allegations an effort to malign Williams and an abuse of power by the agency. "I do see it as a very serious offense and one that is intended to help the governor make up his mind," she said. The Los Angeles District Attorney's office was expected to respond to Williams' clemency petition this week. Crittendon cited a number of disciplinary infractions over the years, including several fights in the 1980s. Williams' most recent rule violation was battery on an inmate in 1993. Supporters of Williams called the allegations ridiculous. "What troubles me about the devaluing of Stan's work and its impact on many low-income youngsters ... is they're saying, 'We don't care if Stanley Tookie Williams could help another 5,000, 10,000 or 100,000 kids,'" said Barbara Becnel who serves as the inmate's spokeswoman. "Some lives mean more than others." In his memoir, "Blue Rage, Black Redemption," Williams said his gangster life ended in 1992, but said he knew prison officials would be reluctant to believe the change was genuine. "They would try at every turn to discredit me, but I was game," Williams wrote. Crittendon further cited Williams' refusal to formally renounce his gang membership, his willingness to share an exercise yard with Crips, his unusually large prison bank account and his younger son's firm entrenchment as a trouble-making Crips member imprisoned for murder. In his book, published last year, Williams addresses nearly all Crittendon's accusations, saying that informing on gang members would "rip my dignity out of my chest." He said he gets along with everyone on the yard and his son is trying to change his ways. Stanley Williams Jr., 30, is currently serving a 16-year sentence for second-degree murder. He's an active Crips member and remains housed in administrative segregation, Crittendon said. Williams said his older son, Travon, 32, "spurned the enticements of the gang life." He's married, a father, owns a home and works for a social services agency, Becnel said. As for his bank account, Crittendon said other high-profile inmates such as Scott Peterson usually get $10 or $20 checks. Williams receives checks for $500 or $1,000 at a time. People who appreciate Williams' work send him money, "It's as simple as that," Becnel said. In an August 2004, a committee of prison officials noted Williams' prior gang activity, but said they had not observed recent gang involvement, according to a report cited by Becnel. The committee commended Williams for his positive steps in the last 10 years. When contacted about Williams' alleged ongoing gang activity, Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman April Harding said there was no evidence of his gang leadership. As far as his illegal activities? "None," she said. "His name doesn't come up." *************************** Williams Still Leads Crips, Officials Say San Quentin leaders dispute the death row inmate's assertion that he has changed his life. As the battle over whether to spare the life of Crips co-founder and convicted murderer Stanley Tookie Williams grows, prison officials have initiated an unusual counterattack against a man who supporters believe has turned his life around behind bars. The people who have watched over Williams for 2 dozen years are questioning whether he is truly redeemed, saying he is still calling the shots from death row for the Crips, one of the nation's most notorious gangs. The corrections department this month posted a news release on its website about the Dec. 13 execution. It gave biographical information about Williams, as well as a narrative about his crimes. In 1979, Williams shot and killed 4 people during 2 robberies in Los Angeles. "By 1994, having firmly entrenched himself as the leader of the Crips at San Quentin, he wielded his power as his lieutenants and other minions were dispatched to carry out his objectives," the release says. Daniel Vasquez, who served as warden at San Quentin from 1983 to 1993 and wrote a letter supporting clemency for the last death row inmate executed, said he had never seen such an inflammatory statement in a news release from the prison. "It's like they're trying to drum up business for death row," he said. The paragraph was removed a day after it was posted, following a call from Associated Press, but a San Quentin spokesman, speaking on behalf of the corrections agency, went even further in a subsequent interview. "When you look at the totality of what has been occurring, that leads me to seriously question this man of peace," said Vernell Crittendon, who has worked at the prison nearly 30 years, regularly interacts with Williams and said he felt obligated to correct the inmate's public image. "I'm concerned that possibly this marketing that's going on . leads the public to hear the words, but not to see that sleight of hand." Williams, 51, has gained international acclaim for writing children's books about the dangers of gang life. He has received several Nobel Prize nominations and has attracted a cadre of celebrity supporters, including actor Jamie Foxx, who played Williams in a television movie, actor-activist Mike Farrell and rapper Snoop Dogg, who is scheduled to appear at a rally Saturday outside the prison. Williams' death by lethal injection next month promises to be the highest-profile execution in California since the death penalty was reinstated in 1978, and a fight over clemency will end at the governor's desk. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has not spared the life of anyone on death row, has not yet said whether he would schedule a clemency hearing. Crittendon cited a number of disciplinary infractions over the years, including several fights in the 1980s. Williams' most recent rule violation was battery on an inmate in 1993. Supporters of Williams called the allegations ridiculous. "What troubles me about the devaluing of Stan's work and its impact on many low-income youngsters . is they're saying, 'We don't care if Stanley Tookie Williams could help another 5,000, 10,000 or 100,000 kids,' " said Barbara Becnel, who serves as the inmate's spokeswoman. "Some lives mean more than others." When contacted about Williams' alleged ongoing gang activity, Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman April Harding said there was no evidence of his gang leadership. (source for both: Associated Press) ARKANSAS----new death sentence Springs Sentenced To Die A Fort Smith jury sentenced Thomas Springs to death on Wednesday for the murder of his wife. Thomas Leo Springs was convicted of one count of murder and 2 counts of aggravated assault on Tuesday. Jurors heard testimony from both the prosecution and defense on Wednesday relative to the penalty phase of the trial. Springs' defense attorneys asked the jury to choose life in prison, adding that his 5 children "will not get answers from a tombstone that reads 'Thomas Leo Springs.'" The attorneys said he snapped and was suffering from an extreme emotional disturbance when the crime was committed. However, state prosecutors painted a much different picture as to what they believe Springs was thinking. They said he had a plan to put other people in danger and would constitute a danger to prisoners and prison guards. Prosecutors asked for the death penalty, saying "if he's thinking so much about his children, then why would he do the things that hurt them the most?" There is no word on any date scheduled for Springs' execution. (source: TheHometownChannel.com) NEVADA: High court grants part of Nevada death row inmate's appeal Death row inmate Robert Byford won an order Wednesday from the Nevada Supreme Court directing a judge to reconsider his claims of ineffective legal counsel. Byford, sentenced to die for the 1991 murder of a woman shot and set on fire in the desert near Las Vegas, made the claims in what the high court described as a "repetitious, wasteful approach" in a petition that ran nearly 700 pages. The petition listed dozens of claims, and the Supreme Court said that in most cases Clark County District Judge Valorie Vega properly dismissed them. But the claims of ineffective trial counsel and ineffective counsel in follow-up appeals were denied without specific findings that are required in such cases, justices said. The court remanded the case to Vega, directing her to reconsider the claims and "at a minimum, enter an order that sets forth specific findings of fact and conclusions of law" to support her decision. Byford, who was 20 at the time of the crime, and Christopher Williams, who was 17, were found guilty in 1994 of the murder of Monica Wilkins, 18, but the state Supreme Court overturned those convictions because of improper statements by prosecutors. Both were convicted a 2nd time. Byford got the death penalty, and Williams got a no-parole life term. Byford and Williams testified that a third man, Todd Smith, killed the woman. Smith testified for the prosecution and was allowed to plead guilty to accessory to murder. He completed a 2-year term. Deputy Clark County District Attorney Christopher Lalli said the evidence against Byford was overwhelming. He said Byford bragged about killing Wilkins and told others he "committed murder because he wanted to experience the death of another person." (source: Associated Press) ILLINOIS: Jurors explain why they backed city over ex-death row inmate A Cook County jury wanted to award former death row inmate Anthony Porter $24 million for his wrongful conviction. But jurors ultimately voted against Porter after deciding police had gathered enough evidence to establish probable cause for his arrest in a 1982 double murder on the South Side. "We told the judge we really want to make sure this guy gets compensation somehow," said one juror, who asked not to be identified. The jury would have voted for Porter if the case had involved the conduct of the investigating officers, the juror said. "We unanimously believed he was innocent, that he was wronged," the juror said. "But we couldn't [find for Porter]. The case was, 'Was there probable cause?'" Jurors deliberated almost 6 hours before issuing a verdict Tuesday in favor of the city. "The jury concluded the officers did have probable cause and the officers did not set out to frame [Porter] as he alleged," said Jennifer Hoyle, spokeswoman for the city's Law Department. But the jurors did not agree that the verdict cleared the officers. "There was real misbehavior," the juror said. James Montgomery Jr., an attorney for Porter, said he would consider an appeal. "We are shocked," Montgomery said, adding that Porter is "very upset." "I can't get into the minds of the jury," Montgomery said. "This was not a jury of Mr. Porter's peers and is not typical of juries in the Daley Center of the city of Chicago." Was on death row He pointed out that no African Americans were on the jury. Porter is African-American. George Avila, another juror, bristled at the suggestion that the jury's racial makeup influenced the verdict. Avila said he believed the testimony of the then-assistant state's attorney who approved the charges against Porter after asking police to gather more evidence. But the investigating officers' testimony was less credible, Avila said. "We didn't believe the police story," he said. Porter was released from prison in 1999 after serving 16 years on death row. Another man, Alstory Simon, has confessed to the crime and has been sentenced to 37 years in prison. He has since recanted his confession. Porter already has received $145,000 in compensation from the state in connection with his wrongful conviction. Since his release, Porter has been working at the Inner City Youth Foundation, Montgomery said. (source: Chicago Sun-Times)
