The Perfect Reform Storm
February 22nd, 2007 at 11:26 pm
A few weeks ago we mentioned that Craig Watkins, the new district attorney in Dallas County, was talking some big game about reform early in his tenure. This week he backed it up by partnering with the Innocence Project of Texas for a virtually unprecedented review of more than 350 convictions. Law students from several North Texas colleges will examine the cases to see which warrant DNA testing.
If the review sounds more like a job for the state, the legislature agrees — its leadership and the governor just haven’t bothered to fund the Texas Forensic Science Commission, created in 2005 for exactly this purpose. (Priorities, priorities: Lord knows they wouldn’t leave the oil industry in the hands of a few geology grad students.)
The odd twist in all this, though, is that the conditions allowing Watkins to make his name as a reformer may be nothing more than a fluke. Dallas County leads the country in DNA exonerations because its lab is virtually the only one in the state that has the evidence on hand from decades-old cases. “We keep evidence,” Trista Allen, Watkins’s spokeswoman, said emphatically over the phone. What she couldn’t say was why.
After asking around, she called back, still uncertain. “It could be something that no one ever spoke up to say, ‘Let’s throw it out,’ ” she said. A call to the lab was not returned. And Jeff Blackburn, director of the Innocence Project of Texas couldn’t say, either, except that he knows the double helix had nothing to do with it. Legendary lawman Henry Wade’s administration created the lab Dallas County uses in 1969, long before DNA testing existed.
“It’s safe to say that this was an unintended consequence,” Blackburn said.
Not that this at all takes away from the guts it took for Watkins to be the first to examine the evidence. He rightly frames the review as an effort to ensure justice, but it goes against the “tuff on crime” crowd that dominated Dallas crime-fighting for so long. And already some judges and prosecutors have offered the most resistance to Watkins’s plans, Blackburn said.
But it is amazing that Watkins’s career and the headline-grabbing exonerations, which reformers hope will usher in a wholesale examination of Texas’ criminal justice system, could all be built on a little blind luck.
July 3rd, 2007 at 3:56 pm
[…] several months since we checked in with Dallas Co. DA Craig Watkins, who has taken advantage of his position to join with the Innocence Project and reform the justice system in Dallas. Watkins has continued […]
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:51 pm
This is an update provided by Making The Walls Transparent (MTWT-Texas)
about the Dallas County justice system.
In the Texas justice system, and particularly in Dallas County, there are many examples of the fundamental unfairness, class discrimination, blatant racism, police, judicial and prosecutorial misconduct and repeated human/civil rights violations that take place daily. No better example of this is the arrest, indictments and prosecution of Lakeith Amir-Sharif on charges that lack a factual basis and are based solely on sloppy police and prosecution investigations, questionable acts by judges, and the knowingly perjured testimony of a angry, vindictive, and heart broken ex-girlfriend named Cathy Jonette Hawkins. Now this case like the majority of criminal cases prosecuted inside Dallas Country “does not” involve DNA, so any reforms of our criminal justice system must take this fact under consideration when trying to address the larger problems that affect the justice system. There is a greater possibility of an innocent person being convicted in a non-DNA cases than if there is DNA available. A casual review of the facts and circumstances surrounding of Sharif’s charges will leave you wondering why has the D.A. Watkins has continued to prosecute this innocent man; and at the expense to taxpayers that to date exceeds two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00).
In light of the mean-spirited and the ill-conceived prosecution started by Bill Hill’s administration back in November 2004, coupled with the fact that the current judges and District Attorney (D.A.) Craig Watkins unwillingness to end this farce of a trial, I must now tell every ear that will listen about the 15, exoneration that have occurred in Dallas since 2001. I must tell everyone about the dysfunctional indigent defense system you have in Dallas, and the dishonest police, bias judges and other corrupt prosecutors and other public officials who have and still are knowing co-conspirators in the injustices and inhumane activities at the Dallas County jail and justice system. MTWT and our associates can do no less than make as much noise about all of you and the shady system you work in as possible.
Your justice system appointed people like Sharif’s former court-appointed attorneys John H. Read II and Douglas Hugh Schopmeyer , and has judges like Manny Alvarez and Angela Michelle King who turn a blind eye to the ineffective assistance of counsel as well as other illegal activities, such as but not limited to, the perjured testimony of the states so-called witness/victim Cathy Jonette Hawkins, the D.A.’s office having someone break into Sharif’s house after he told assistant D.A. Carla Bean that he had taped recordings of his conversations with Ms. Hawkins while Ms. Hawkins was repeatedly deceiving the court claiming she had not and was not having any contact with Sharif, the D.A.‘s office destroying and/or concealing exculpatory evidence, thereby depriving Sharif any chance for ever receiving a fair trial. What a shameful thing you are doing under the false guise of seeking justice.
Lakeith Amir-Sharif is “INNOCENT” and we at Making The Walls Transparent, Prison Legal News, America’s Wrongfully Convicted and Justice Watch will continue to say it until justice is served in Sharif’s case and other cases in which the defendant is not guilty of the crime they have been charged with.
To find many of the answers as to why there was a Fake Drug Scandal in Dallas, and why 15 recently exonerated citizens were wrongfully arrested, tried and convicted, to prison, and why 400 plus others imprisoned citizens from Dallas County alone are claiming they were wrongful convicted and that DNA testing will prove their innocence, you need to look no further than the case of Lakeith Amir-Sharif and the many things MTWT, Justice Watch, Prison Legal News (PLN) and others have pointed out to the world via MTWT’s website and other sources. Today, the wrongfully accused is Sharif, but tomorrow it could be you, or someone you know or care about.
For all those interested, especially investigative news reporters and concerned taxpayers, a Public Records Request will verify everything that MTWT, Justice Watch and other have been saying about the shameful justice system in Texas and the unjust prosecution of Lakeith Amir-Sharif:
1.) Based on (closely guarded) information and belief thus far the Dallas DA” Watkins and the judges have squandered over two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00) of our tax dollars to try and gain a conviction based on the allegations of a woman whose credibility leaves al lot to be desired. Why is the D.A.’s office prosecuting charges that would of never gone beyond the police investigation stage where it in the majority of other jurisdictions around the U.S. Why such zeal to convict this man? Why the total disregard for being a good steward of taxpayers money.? There is nothing “smart” (on crime) about this. Given all the thousands wasted thus, its fair to say the Dallas D.A.‘s office is treating this like a capitol murder case. Why?
2.)The alleged victim/witness, Cathy Jonette Hawkins is a vindictive, and heartbroken ex-girlfriend who has changed her story every time she has told it. More specifically, Ms. Hawkins committed aggravated perjury in her three criminal complaint affidavits, filed Nov. 23, 2004; Feb. 10, 2005 and Sept. 01, 2005. Ms. Hawkins has also given contradictory and inconsistent testimony about the alleged crimes when she appeared in court on November 17, 2005 in front of former Dallas District Judge Manny Alvarez. . Mr. Watkins’ DA’s office is aware of but has ignored all of this. Why, is Ms. Hawkins perjured testimony the ?
3.) Police officers from the Farmers Branch Police Department committed perjury in their affidavits presented to the magistrate judge to obtain an arrest warrant for the alleged Stalking charge. in those affidavits the officers falsely claimed on numerous occasions that they had responded to calls to Ms. Hawkins place of employment and home regarding criminal acts perpetuated by Sharif.
There is “NO” police report on file that shows the Farmers Branch Police responded to Ms. Hawkins home, and only two reports can be found that they responded to her job. Only one of the dates given in their affidavits match the numerous dates given to they alleged when seeking the arrest warrant.
4.) The Stalking charge is “statutorily invalid” and was known to be so by the Bill Hill administration when it was presented to the Grand Jury. The Texas Penal Code at sec. 42.07 requires two (2) reported incidents of stalking, yet there is “NO” two police report of stalking on file with either the Dallas or farmers Branch Police Departments. Why, was this charge ever processed and why are tax dollars still being used to prosecute this case?
5.) For 16 1/2 months while Sharif sat in the Dallas County Jail, he was court-appointed two different attorneys and neither of these attorneys filed any motions on Sharif’s behalf. These court-appointed attorneys also “NEVER”:
a. Conducted any investigations, to prepare a defense.
b. Requested any subpoenas to obtain security footage available that could of proven that Sharif was not anywhere in the area at the time alleged in the Stalking complaint.
c. Requested any subpoenas to obtain telephone records, pawn store receipts, and other financial statements of the victim and Sharif, which would of discredited Ms. Hawkins claims that she had broken off her relationship and she was not intimately involved with Sharif after mid 2004 and all of 2005. Why hasn’t the DA’s office verified this?
6.) Ms. Hawkins wrote a letter stating Sharif is “innocent”. Why, has the judges, the DA’s and even Sharif’s court-appointed attorneys suppressed this evidence? Why hasn’t a handwriting expert been sought if the letters authenticity is in question? Why hasn’t Ms. Hawkins herself been questioned about this letter if truth and justice is what these proceeding are actually about?
7.) Sharif has been denied his Constitutional right to a speedy trial on a 2004 misdemeanor charge involving Ms. Hawkins. Why despite numerous request from Sharif has the judges and his court-appointed attorneys refused to grant him his day in court on this charge? He has more than enough time served, so why is the DA’s office wasting tax dollars by prosecuting it?
8.) Sharif was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (to wit: a car) causing serious bodily injury. There are several problems with this charge, which on the part of Sharif was a at beast a simple car accident.
a. First, the alleged victim Ms. Hawkins suffered “NO” injury, repeat “NO” injury. No medical attention was ever sought by this woman.
b. Second, it was Ms. Hawkins who first ran her car into Sharif knocking him onto the hood of her car and causing him serious bodily injury resulting in Sharif being hospitalized. Why wasn’t/hasn’t Ms. Hawkins been charged for her criminal actions?
Selective prosecution and unequal justice which Texas is famous for
c. Third, after running over Sharif Ms. Hawkins tried to flee the scene of the crime. She drove erratically through her and Sharif’s apartment complex towards the exit gate. She abruptly slammed on brakes o avoid hitting the exit gate that was closing. This caused Sharif who was following her to hit the rear end of Ms. Hawkins’ car. Where is the crime of aggravated assault in this incident?
d. Why did the DA’s office wait 9 months after the incident and the creation of Making The Walls Transparent (MTWT’s) website which exposes the injustices in the Dallas justice and jail system before charging Sharif? Is there a connection?
e. Why wasn’t this incident investigated by police as a crime, rather than an unverifiable “traffic accident”?
9.) Contrary to the publicized “open files” policy the the D.A.‘s office has yet to grant Sharif’s current attorneys Dianne K. Jones and Larry Jarrett access to the files so the defense can prepare for trial which is scheduled for April 21, 2008, before the Honorable Carter Thompson. Why? There is nothing fair about this prosecution and trial!!!
10.) Dallas DA Craig Watkins himself are the defendants in a pending federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Sharif in 2006. Is it not a conflict of interest for Mr. Watkins and his staff to be in charge of prosecuting these charges against Sharif? Does the pending civil rights litigation have any impact on the impartiality of the prosecution? has or does the pending litigation play a role in DA Watkins decisions made with respect to how these charges against Sharif are being handled?
The foregoing facts exposes a undeniable example of ill begotten power in the hands of irresponsible and unethical prosecutors inside the Dallas DA’s office.
There are many more red flags and unethical behind-the-scene activities in the case of State of Texas v. Lakeith Amir-Sharif. If we continue to deprive citizens of their legal, human and Constructional rights then we will be no better then the Nazi’s. The perception that the nation and world has of the Texas justice system demands immediate action to.
http://www.angelfire.com/crazy4/texas/craigwatkins.html
http://americaswrongfullyconvicted.com/lakeith_amirsharif.htm
http://youtube.com/watch?v=U5bG1rYNFB8
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Q4bmYb8JLQI&feature=related