Virginia Man Continues Fight to Clear His Name

A Virginia man who plead guilty in juvenile court to a 2007 rape and breaking and entering charge on the advice of a court-appointed lawyer will have a chance to clear his name at a hearing in July to determine if the lawyer violated his right to effective defense.

 

The Free Lance Star reports that on June 4, 2007, 15-year-old Edgar Coker had consensual sexual relations with his 14-year-old neighbor in the girl’s bedroom. At the time, the girl claimed rape to avoid getting into trouble with her mother. But two months after Coker was sent to juvenile detention, she admitted the fabrication. Now, both families want to clear Coker’s record.

 

Now 21, Coker was released from custody three years ago, but was required to register as a sex offender. Since then, a team of attorneys, including the

Innocence Project at the University of Virginia Law School

, has been trying to get his name removed from the registry.

 

The hearing is scheduled for July 16 and 17.

 

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