Michael Morton’s Prosecutor Will Face Criminal Charges for Withholding Evidence

Today a Texas court has ruled that former Williamson County District Attorney Ken Anderson will face criminal contempt and tampering charges for failing to turn over evidence pointing to the innocence of Michael Morton, who was later exonerated by DNA evidence after serving 25 years for his wife’s murder.

 

The Judge ruled there was probable cause to believe Anderson violated three criminal laws by concealing evidence in the case and issued a warrant for his arrest. The decision to bring criminal charges against Anderson comes at the conclusion of a Court of Inquiry that was convened at the request of the Innocence Project, which uncovered evidence that Anderson failed to turn over evidence that could have prevented Morton’s wrongful conviction during its decade long legal battle to prove Morton’s innocence.

 

The court made specific findings that Anderson knew of evidence supporting Morton’s innocence but intentionally failed to turn that evidence over to the defense.

 

Following today’s hearing, Anderson was taken to Williamson County jail for processing. He is expected to be released on bond which was set at $2,500 for each felony count.

 

Full details in

today’s press release

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View the

judge’s findings

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Read more about

Morton’s case

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