Leonard McSherry

The six-year-old victim was kidnapped from a park near her home, driven to a house, and raped. When she arrived at the hospital, examinations revealed extreme swelling in her genital area and fresh bleeding.

The girl positively identified McSherry twice from photo lineups and recognized him at a live lineup. A neighbor testified that she saw McSherry in the park where the girl was kidnapped and picked him out of a live lineup and a photo lineup. The girl’s four-year-old brother also identified McSherry in a showup, but not at a live lineup. The girl also identified McSherry’s grandparents’ house as the house where the rape occurred. She was also able to give correct details about its interior.

At trial, a forensic analyst testified that although one of the stains found on the victim’s underwear showed A blood type activity which excluded the defendant, the result was inconclusive because “based on my experience,” that result could have been due to “bacterial contamination.” No tests were conducted to examine that theory.

In 1992, McSherry sought a new trial based on newly discovered biological evidence. He was denied on grounds that the type of testing and the fragments of evidence available were insufficient, despite the fact that available tests excluded him. The State also provided experts to counter the evidence tested by the defense. The court felt the conflicting opinions meant that the evidence would have little weight.

The evidence in McSherry’s case was eventually subjected to DNA testing in 2001. The test excluded McSherry. The DNA was attributed to George Valdespino, 59, who was now serving 45 years to life in prison for the 1997 kidnapping and molestation of another girl. When questioned in prison, Valdespino admitted he had kidnapped the six-year-old form Long Beach’s Navy Housing Project and raped her in a motel room.

McSherry later was awarded $481,000 in compensation from the State for thirteen years of wrongful incarceration.