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Wrongly Convicted Database Record
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Charge: |
"Murder, Rape & Sodomy" |
Sentence: |
Life Incarceration and Died in Mental Institution |
Years Imprisoned: |
20 |
Year Crime: |
1985 |
Year Convicted: |
1989 |
Year Cleared: |
2009 |
U.S. State or Country of Crime: |
New York |
County or Region of Crime: |
Oneida |
City of Crime: |
Utica |
Result: |
Judicially Exonerated Released |
Summary of Case: |
"Steven Barnes was wrongly convicted in 1989 of rape, sodomy and depraved indifference murder related to the 1985 death of a 16-year-old girl. Barnes' conviction was based on a circumstantial case. He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Barnes' convictions were affirmed on appeal and his state habeas petition was denied. DNA testing in 1996 was inconclusive. On November 21, 2008 more advanced DNA testing excluded Barnes as the young woman's assailant. The Oneida County District Attorney immediately agreed to not oppose vacating Barnes conviction, and at 9:30 am on November 25, 2008 Barnes was released on a personal recognizance bond pending dismissal of the charges. Barnes was incarcerated for about 20 years from the time of his release. On January 9, 2009 the DA formally dropped the charges against Barnes and his indictment was dismissed. New York's Court of Claims awarded Steven Barnes compensation of $3.5 million in October 2010." |
Conviction Caused By: |
Steven Barnes's conviction was based on a circumstantial case. |
Innocence Proved By: |
"On November 21, 2008 more advanced DNA testing excluded Barnes as the young woman's assailant. The Oneida County District Attorney immediately agreed to not oppose vacating Barnes conviction, and at 9:30 am on November 25, 2008 Barnes was released on a personal recognizance bond pending dismissal of the charges. " |
Defendant Aided By: |
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Compensation Awarded: |
"$3,500,000 (New York State, October 2010)" |
Was Perpetrator Identified? |
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Age When Imprisoned: |
23 |
Age When Released: |
43 |
Sex: |
Male |
Skin/Ethnicity: |
White |
Information Source 1: |
"Barnes - 'I knew this day would come', By Rocco LaDuca, Observer-Dispatch (Utica, NY), November 25, 2008" |
Information Location 1: |
http://www.uticaod.com/specialreports/x776458893/Judge-orders-Barnes-release |
Information Source 2: |
"One last night in custody, by Rocco LaDuca, Observer-Dispatch (Utica, NY), November 24, 2008" |
Information Location 2: |
http://www.uticaod.com/archive/x415851988/One-last-night-in-custody |
Information Source 3: |
"Barnes mother -- Last 19 years have been a nightmare, by Marques Phillips, Observer-Dispatch (Utica, NY), November 24, 2008" |
Information Location 3: |
http://www.uticaod.com/news/x596317588/Barnes-mother-Last-19-years-have-been-a-nightmare |
Information Source 4: |
"Wrongly jailed NY man formally cleared of murder, The Citizen (Auburn, NY), January 9, 2009" |
Information Location 4: |
http://www.auburnpub.com/articles/2009/01/09/latest_news/10latestnews.txt |
Information Source 5: |
"Court of claims awards $3.5 million to Steven Barnes for wrongful conviction, WKTV.com (Utica, NY, January 7, 2011" |
Information Location 5: |
http://www.wktv.com/news/local/Court-of-claims-awards-35-million-to-Steven-Barnes-for-wrongful-conviction-113095119.html |
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Comments About Case: |
Innocents Database Created and Maintained by Hans Sherrer innocents@forejustice.org