Wards and Fontenots convictions were featured in the John Grisham 2006 book The Innocent Man and a 2018 Netflix series of the same name, as well as the 1987 book Dreams of Ada by Robert Mayer. Tommy Ward to be set free . Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna "Denice" Haraway. Last week, a Pontotoc County District Court judge ordered Tommy Ward be released from prison. Both have excellent teams of lawyers who continue to work for their release." The conclusion of "The Innocent Man" docu-series notes that Ward's post-conviction filing has been opposed by the state, but that a judge will review the case in 2019. Since the age of 16, Ward has had the opportunity to work alongside industry veterans and legends. But now, Wards release has been blocked by the state Attorney Generals Office. The conclusion of "The Innocent Man" docu-series notes that Ward's post-conviction filing has been opposed by the state, but that a judge will review the case in 2019. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. Later that year, an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Agent interviewed Tommy Ward, who said he, Karl Fontenot, and another man robbed the store Haraway worked at, then stabbed and raped. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal . However, she would never be seen alive again. Judge vacates sentence; Tommy Ward to be set free Ward was convicted alongside Karl Fontenot for murdering Donna Harraway in Ada. Judge vacates Tommy Ward's sentences in 'The Innocent Man' case The Court of Criminal Appeals ordered Tommy Ward, 60, to remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower court's ruling that he be released. State asks U.S. Supreme Court to uphold conviction in 'Innocent Man' Prisoner seen in Netflix's The Innocent Man has murder conviction Newson6.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, More to come. Barrett noted that the appeals court ordered the lower court to consider an additional claim regarding new evidence discovered in 2019. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. 2023 www.oklahoman.com. Fontenots conviction was overturned in 2019, and he was freed pending an appeal by the state. An Oklahoma judge ruled that the case rested on circumstantial evidence. Critically acclaimed singer, musician, and entertainer. Read: Attorney General's Office Appeals Ruling That Would Vacate Sentence Of Tommy Ward, In Tuesdays filing, attorneys representing Ward argued the district judges ruling was fair and reasonable and echoed the judge that the withheld evidence creates a reasonable probability that the outcome would be different.. Mark Barrett and Greg Swygert , the attorneys representing Tommy Ward, spoke with The Frontier this week about the status of Ward's case to have his 1989 murder conviction and life sentence. We are pressing forward exploring the possibility of going to federal court with additional appeals, Barrett said. Oklahoma court reinstates 'Innocent Man' murder conviction She doesnt believe he could be given a fair trial after more than 30 years. I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. Meanwhile, Fontenot, as explained in the Netflix series, had perhaps offered his testimony to the aggressive police because he both feared for his safety and wanted to escape from what was described as poverty and homelessness. The Innocent Man, released by Netflix in 2018, looked at two murder cases having taken place in Ada in the 1980s, including the one which resulted in Wards conviction. Tommy Ward: The Innocent Man (@WardInnocentMan) / Twitter Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Ward's case was the focus of the Netflix documentary "The Innocent Man, " which was released in 2018. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna Denice Haraway. Fontenot, Wards co-defendant, was ordered released by a federal judge in 2019, and the state is also appealing that order. News 9 Team Holds Severe Weather Expo At Penn Square Mall, Sauced On The Paseo Re-Opens 2 Years After Fire, Read Across America Celebration Held At Belle Isle Library, OKC Thunder, Big Brothers & Big Sisters Host Clinic For Kids At Park, TCSO, 'Color Free America' Hold Dialogue Between Citizens And Law Enforcement, First Responders Host Recruitment Fair In Tulsa, Doctors Warn Dangers Of Cannabis Edibles For Children. Fontenot is currently awaiting the results of a federal appeal. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the judges ruling last year, saying that, Almost no evidence connected him to the crime other than his own videotaped confession, a confession that rang false in almost every particular., The appeals court said Fontenot has brought forth new evidence that is sufficient to unlock the actual innocence gateway and to allow his substantive claims to be heard on the merits. Fontenot was sentenced to death again but Ward was sentenced to life in prison, according to The Oklahoman. Tommy Ward - YouTube Ward remained in prison while the state appealed the ruling, The Associated Press reported at the time. Both Ward and Fontenot would go on to recant their confessions. At only 25 years old, he has already made a name for himself in the entertainment industry, and his videos on social media have racked up millions of views. Tommy's legal team dedicated to freeing Tommy Ward from prison for a crime he did not commit.. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. At 17, he and his band were one of the youngest opening acts in Las Vegas history, completing 90 shows for Billboard #1 artist and Las Vegas headliner of the year, Frankie Moreno. have asked the court of appeals . Tommy Ward was one of two men serving a life sentence for the 1984 murder of Denice Haraway in Ada. It also accounts the false convictions of Ward and Karl Fontenot for themurder of Denice Haraway and the false conviction of Greg Wilhoit for the rape and murder of his estranged wife. Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. More to come. The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the conviction of one man in the 1984 murder of an Ada convienince store worker featured featured The Innocent Man. Court upholds overturned conviction in 'Innocent Man' case Oklahomas Court of Criminal Appeals, however, argued that the district court had abused its discretion in that instance. Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to receive a fair trial. The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. Ward is a hardworking and dedicated artist who continues to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry. We cant do it without your support. Ward's newly released EP "From This Moment On," (2022) produced by LeCoq Records, showcases his stunning vocal abilities . Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the case. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? In 2020, Fontenot's co-defendant in the case, Tommy Ward, also had his conviction overturned in state court, but prosecutors have appealed that decision to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. PublishedDecember 26, 2020 at 10:50 AM CST, KGOU | Evidence presented to exonerate Fontenot had been available since Fontenots trials in the 1980s, the state said, arguing that the high court should accept the caseto clarify that new evidence means newly discovered or newly available evidence as opposed to newly presented evidence. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. Tommy Ward andKarl Fontenot were sentenced to death in 1985 for the murder of Denice Haraway, despite the fact that their confessions didn't match the crime they were accused of. a man whose murder conviction in Oklahoma was overturned, Fontenot and Thomas Ward were convicted of killing Ada convenience store clerk Donna Denice Haraway in 1984, which became a Netflix documentary series, Oklahoma Army veteran gets probation for role in Jan. 6 US Capitol riot, Human remains found, Oklahoma white supremacist leader might be connected, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Karl Fontenot: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com Ward is currently still in prison while the appeals process continues. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. He is now 58 years old and says he will not admit guilt even if it means improving his chances at parole. Oklahoma Attorney General's Office Appeals Release Of Tommy Ward Ward and co-defendant Karl Fontenot's initial convictions and death sentences for Harways death were overturned, but both were again convicted on retrial with Fontenot again receiving a death sentence and Ward being sentenced to life in prison. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday reinstated Tommy Ward's murder conviction in an infamous 1984 case out of Ada. We promise to never spam you. This contradicted the confessions, which stated that Haraway had been stabbed to death. Tommy Ward has been in prison for 35 years and was supposed to be released today after a judge dismissed Ward's murder conviction. Ward was featured in the Netflix documentary and John Grisham book An Innocent Man. Ward along with Karl Fontenot were convicted of killing Denice Haraway back in the 1980s. Additional reporting by The Associated Press. In both Ward and Fontenots cases, judges issued rulings excoriating investigators for withholding favorable evidence from defense attorneys. Ward and a co-defendant, Karl Fontenot, were convicted and sentenced to life in prison in the 1984 kidnapping and killing of Donna Denice Haraway, a convenience store clerk in Ada, Oklahoma. 37 years since Ada murder, Ward still in custody - KTEN Ward is the subject of a Netflix docuseries and a book by John Grisham. The court overturned a lower court decision that said because prosecutors and police withheld evidence that could exonerate Tommy Ward, 61, of the 1984 murder of Donna Denice Haraway in Ada. Attorneys in Ada 'Innocent Man' murder case 'blown away' by content of The attorneys claim a trove of hundreds of new documents uncovered in a police storage room back up Fontenots claims of innocence. You can opt-out at any time. Attorneys for a man convicted for the 1984 kidnapping and murder of an Ada woman say they plan to file a federal case to try and overturn his conviction after the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals overturned a lower court's order that would have made him a free man. Both have excellent teams of lawyers who continue to work for their release.. and his videos on social media have racked up millions of views. Fontenot is free on bond as the appeals process plays out. The Innocent Man - Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot now - Digital Spy The organization has not offered an update on the status of their efforts. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. This is new info, and were trying to figure what this means right now. Ward's accurate description of the blouse was the only information that he gave that was correct in his confession, Barrett said. A state judge overturned Wards conviction in 2020, but the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office has appealed the ruling. Fontenots lawyers at first waived the right to respond to the state, but the Supreme Court then requested a response. Tommy Ward, who was convicted twice for the 1984 kidnapping and murder of Ada convenience store clerk Donna "Denise" Haraway, had his conviction and life sentence overturned and was ordered to. Judge orders 'Innocent Man' defendant freed - Enidnews.com