Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJonathan Irons Sues Police Officers Who Framed Him at Age 16
Watch the interview on GMA hereLoevy & Loevy
St. LouisMore than two decades after he was wrongly imprisoned, Jonathan Irons filed a federal civil rights lawsuit this week against the officers of the OFallon Police Department and the St. Charles County Sheriffs Department who falsely arrested him at age 16 and fabricated evidence to send him to prison for 23 years for a shooting he did not commit. For decades, these officers hid critical evidence showing that another person had committed the crime.
In July 2020, after spending the majority of his life as an innocent man behind bars, Jonathans wrongful conviction was set aside by Missouri courts when the concealed evidence finally came to light. Jonathans exoneration was secured with the help of WNBA star Maya Moore, who put her career on hold to shine a spotlight on the staggering injustice that Jonathan had suffered. Jonathan and Maya have since married and settled in Atlanta, where they are focused on their family and their continued fight for criminal justice reform through the Win With Justice social action campaign that Maya founded.
....
Without evidence connecting Jonathan to the crime, the defendants fabricated a case against him. Given Mr. Stotlers extreme injuries and the very limited opportunity he had to see the shooter, he was unable to describe or identify the perpetrator. When the defendants first showed him a set of photographs that included Jonathan, Mr. Stotler did not identify Jonathan. But that did not stop the defendants. They manipulated Mr. Stotler into making a wholly unreliable identification of Jonathan. They then bolstered their fabricated case by inventing a story that Jonathan had confessed to the crime, when in fact Jonathan had consistently denied any involvement in the shooting. The defendants wrote false police reports and testified that Jonathan had confessed, while simultaneously destroying their notes and recordings of Jonathans interrogation, which would reveal the truth.
Jonathans only crime was that he was a Black kid present in a predominantly white neighborhood. As a result, even though there was not a shred of evidence suggesting Jonathan committed the shooting, the defendants decided to frame him, said Anand Swaminathan, one of Ironss attorneys. It is rare to see a case where literally every piece of evidence implicating the criminal defendant is fabricated by the police, but thats exactly what happened in Jonathans case. The police took the stand and swore on a Bible that Jonathan had confessed to them, even though they knew that was a lie, and they coerced a gravely injured victim to identify their suspect in court, knowing that he had no clue who had shot him.
In July 2020, after spending the majority of his life as an innocent man behind bars, Jonathans wrongful conviction was set aside by Missouri courts when the concealed evidence finally came to light. Jonathans exoneration was secured with the help of WNBA star Maya Moore, who put her career on hold to shine a spotlight on the staggering injustice that Jonathan had suffered. Jonathan and Maya have since married and settled in Atlanta, where they are focused on their family and their continued fight for criminal justice reform through the Win With Justice social action campaign that Maya founded.
....
Without evidence connecting Jonathan to the crime, the defendants fabricated a case against him. Given Mr. Stotlers extreme injuries and the very limited opportunity he had to see the shooter, he was unable to describe or identify the perpetrator. When the defendants first showed him a set of photographs that included Jonathan, Mr. Stotler did not identify Jonathan. But that did not stop the defendants. They manipulated Mr. Stotler into making a wholly unreliable identification of Jonathan. They then bolstered their fabricated case by inventing a story that Jonathan had confessed to the crime, when in fact Jonathan had consistently denied any involvement in the shooting. The defendants wrote false police reports and testified that Jonathan had confessed, while simultaneously destroying their notes and recordings of Jonathans interrogation, which would reveal the truth.
Jonathans only crime was that he was a Black kid present in a predominantly white neighborhood. As a result, even though there was not a shred of evidence suggesting Jonathan committed the shooting, the defendants decided to frame him, said Anand Swaminathan, one of Ironss attorneys. It is rare to see a case where literally every piece of evidence implicating the criminal defendant is fabricated by the police, but thats exactly what happened in Jonathans case. The police took the stand and swore on a Bible that Jonathan had confessed to them, even though they knew that was a lie, and they coerced a gravely injured victim to identify their suspect in court, knowing that he had no clue who had shot him.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
7 replies, 1523 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (27)
ReplyReply to this post
7 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Jonathan Irons Sues Police Officers Who Framed Him at Age 16 (Original Post)
Algernon Moncrieff
Mar 2021
OP
It is my understanding that Robin Roberts is doing an ESPN 30 for 30 on this
Algernon Moncrieff
Mar 2021
#7
MagickMuffin
(15,933 posts)1. So, the REAL KILLER was still on the loose to murder again?
Meanwhile a young black teen was targeted to take the fall, which happens a lot.
Are the men who lied about his arrest and conviction still be alive?
I'd love to see Jonathan sue them in civil court. Take as much money as they have in pensions or whatever they have in the bank or savings.
stopdiggin
(11,248 posts)6. I believe that is what is happening here
and I think that should extend (in a case this pervasive and egregious) to the departments and jurisdictions that these men worked for. When the state has people that are flat out criminals working for them ....
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,308 posts)2. K&R for Jonathan and Maya
malaise
(268,713 posts)3. And he's not the only one
Racim is institutional - hatred is poison at all levels.
Hope he collects millions to enjoy the rest of his life
n/t
Algernon Moncrieff
(5,781 posts)7. It is my understanding that Robin Roberts is doing an ESPN 30 for 30 on this
The best ways to stop this behavior: penalize the wrongdoers and shine light on the issue.
Oldem
(833 posts)5. The officers involved deserve to spend no less
than 23 years in prison.