Robert Jones Is Exonerated!
01.27.17 By Innocence Staff
Robert Jones is pictured here (right) Immediately following his exoneration with Innocence Project New Orleans Deputy Director Richard Davis on Jan. 26, 2016. Photo: Innocence Project New Orleans.
More than 23 years ago, Robert Jones was convicted of robbing, kidnapping and raping a woman in 1992 in Orleans Parish and then soon after pleaded guilty to a pair of other crimes, one of which included killing a tourist in New Orleans’ French Quarter in 1996. Yesterday, on his 44th birthday, Jones was exonerated of those crimes. The Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office announced that it would not retry him for the 1992 crimes and vacated the other charges to which he’d falsely pleaded guilty.
The Innocence Project New Orleans (IPNO) started working on Jones’ case seven years ago. Over the course of those years, attorneys there uncovered evidence which pointed to grave injustice in how then-prosecutors handled Jones’ case, including loss of exculpatory DNA evidence and “steering of a witness” in the 1992 case, writes the Advocate. IPNO also learned that there was absolutely no evidence linking Jones to the other cases to which he’d been advised by his attorney to plead guilty.
Related: Let’s Fix America’s Guilty Plea Problem
In 2015, based on that evidence, Jones was released on bond. He’s been out on bail since that time, but it was unclear as to how long he would remain free given that the Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro had pledged to re-try Jones for the 1992 case.
The Innocence Project, which assisted on the case, was in preparation with IPNO for a hearing scheduled to start earlier this week at which they were going to highlight the misconduct under former Orleans Parish District Attorney Harry Connick. But on Thursday, Assistant District Attorney David Pipes said that the case would not be retried.
After exoneration, Robert Jones stands with his legal team including Innocence Project Co-Director Barry Scheck, Innocence Project New Orleans Executive Director Emily Maw, Kirschelle McGowan, Richard Davis, and Innocence Project Senior Attorney Nina Morrison on Jan. 26, 2016. Photo: Innocence Project New Orleans.
“Today is not only my birthday, but today is a day of justice,” Jones told the judge, according to the Advocate. “This is what I stood on for many years. I have stood on my innocence. I’ve stood on my truth, my confidence and justice.”
Outside the courthouse, Jones said about the case that took more than 23 years of his freedom: “It’s a burden I’ve been carrying for many, many years. The burden is free. I’m light. I can fly.”
Jones has a wish list on Amazon to which people can purchase day-to-day items for him and his home.
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February 1, 2017 at 4:54 pm
February 1, 2017 at 4:39 pm
Best Luck Sir – The real crime was commited by those who tried you. Justice was forever tarnished by the people who pursued your conviction and will continue to be, until those who play a knowingly role is a false conviction are held criminally responsible. It appears now that they are protected and at minimum receive some trivial slap on the wrist, while your life is taken and forever changed. Be angry at the system and fight for what is due you. Forgive if you wish but don’t forget and fight for those like you. Their lifes are gone, futures unknown. While the people who stole their lifes wine, dine and laugh…………………….
Another KING caught up in a system that wrongfully convicted him and now have sent him out into society to paddle his own bike, But when it was time to convict the team was plentiful and stood ready. Where is the team to assist you to get you back on your feet? The Innocence Project is so outstanding I can’t say enough about how I admire this organization. Where would alot of men and women be today without them. I’m so glad that you have been released. God Bless you Robert Jones