Wrongfully Convicted
From the Boston Phoenix of February 6, 2004
Roll call
SINCE 1982, these individuals either have been officially exonerated or had their sentences vacated in Massachusetts:
Stephan Cowans — sentenced in 1997 for shooting a police officer in Suffolk County, under DA Ralph Martin; released in 2004 as a result of DNA evidence.
Ulysses Rodriguez Charles — sentenced in 1985 for rape in Suffolk County, under DA Newman Flanagan; released 2003 as a result of DNA evidence.
Shawn Drumgold — sentenced in 1989 for murder in Suffolk County, under DA Newman Flanagan; released in 2003 as a result of DNA evidence.
Angel Hernandez — sentenced in 1988 for rape in Hampden County, under DA Matthew Ryan; released in 2001 as a result of DNA evidence.
Donnell Johnson — sentenced in 1996 for murder in Suffolk County, under DA Ralph Martin; released in 1999 when new evidence established someone else was responsible.
Lawyer Johnson — sentenced in 1972 for murder in Suffolk County, under DA Garrett Byrne; released in1982 when witnesses were deemed untrustworthy.
Bobby Joe Leaster — sentenced in 1971 for murder in Suffolk County, under DA Garrett Byrne; released in 1986 when eyewitness identification turned out to be mistaken.
Dennis Maher — sentenced in 1984 for rape in Middlesex County, under DA Scott Harshbarger; released in 2003 as a result of DNA evidence.
Neil Miller — sentenced in 1990 for rape in Suffolk County, under DA Newman Flanagan; released in 2000 as a result of DNA evidence.
Marvin Mitchell — sentenced in 1990 for rape in Suffolk County, under DA Newman Flanagan; released in 1997 as a result of DNA evidence.
Marlon Passley — sentenced in 1996 for murder in Suffolk County, under DA Ralph Martin; released in 2000 when new evidence established someone else was responsible.
George Reissfelder – sentenced in 1967 for murder in Suffolk County, under A Garrett Byrne; released in 1982 when lawyers (including then-defense attorney John Kerry) brought 10 witnesses to affirm Reissfelder’s innocence, and a co-defendant confessed Reissfelder was not his accomplice.
Information from the New England Innocence Project and Boston University professor of law Stanley Fisher’s article, "Convictions of Innocent Persons in Massachusetts: An Overview."
Stephan Cowans — sentenced in 1997 for shooting a police officer in Suffolk County, under DA Ralph Martin; released in 2004 as a result of DNA evidence.
Ulysses Rodriguez Charles — sentenced in 1985 for rape in Suffolk County, under DA Newman Flanagan; released 2003 as a result of DNA evidence.
Shawn Drumgold — sentenced in 1989 for murder in Suffolk County, under DA Newman Flanagan; released in 2003 as a result of DNA evidence.
Angel Hernandez — sentenced in 1988 for rape in Hampden County, under DA Matthew Ryan; released in 2001 as a result of DNA evidence.
Donnell Johnson — sentenced in 1996 for murder in Suffolk County, under DA Ralph Martin; released in 1999 when new evidence established someone else was responsible.
Lawyer Johnson — sentenced in 1972 for murder in Suffolk County, under DA Garrett Byrne; released in1982 when witnesses were deemed untrustworthy.
Bobby Joe Leaster — sentenced in 1971 for murder in Suffolk County, under DA Garrett Byrne; released in 1986 when eyewitness identification turned out to be mistaken.
Dennis Maher — sentenced in 1984 for rape in Middlesex County, under DA Scott Harshbarger; released in 2003 as a result of DNA evidence.
Neil Miller — sentenced in 1990 for rape in Suffolk County, under DA Newman Flanagan; released in 2000 as a result of DNA evidence.
Marvin Mitchell — sentenced in 1990 for rape in Suffolk County, under DA Newman Flanagan; released in 1997 as a result of DNA evidence.
Marlon Passley — sentenced in 1996 for murder in Suffolk County, under DA Ralph Martin; released in 2000 when new evidence established someone else was responsible.
George Reissfelder – sentenced in 1967 for murder in Suffolk County, under A Garrett Byrne; released in 1982 when lawyers (including then-defense attorney John Kerry) brought 10 witnesses to affirm Reissfelder’s innocence, and a co-defendant confessed Reissfelder was not his accomplice.
Information from the New England Innocence Project and Boston University professor of law Stanley Fisher’s article, "Convictions of Innocent Persons in Massachusetts: An Overview."