Wrongly Convicted Database Record

 

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Joan Andrews Bell

 

Charge:

Disorderly Conduct

Sentence:

"$1,000 fine"

Years Imprisoned:

Year Crime:

2014

Year Convicted:

2015

Year Cleared:

2016

U.S. State or Country of Crime:

Oklahoma

County or Region of Crime:

Oklahoma

City of Crime:

Oklahoma City

Result:

Judicially Exonerated

Summary of Case:

"Joan Andrews Bell was wrongly convicted in 2015 of disorderly conduct and interfering or obstructing by disobeying a lawful command in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on September 21, 2014. Bell's prosecution as based on her arrest outside the Oklahoma City Civic Center where she was kneeling and praying during a satanic “black mass” meeting inside the Civic Center. After Joan Bell, who lived in New Jersey, was convicted by a bench (judge only) trial, she was fined $500 for each count. Bell appealed. In August 2016 the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals vacated Bell's conviction on the basis the prosecution introduced insufficient evidence of her giult beyond a reasonable doubt. After her exoneration Bell was interviewed by a reporter for The Oklahoman newspaper during which "She said she attended the Sept. 21, 2014, protest of the black mass, a parody of the Catholic Mass, to pray against what she calls “a hate crime.” I don't believe that the government or (any) city should cooperate with any kind of hate crime. It's a hate crime against the Catholic faith and Catholic people and against my Lord.” ("Convictions overturned for woman arrested during 2014 satanic "black mass" protest in Oklahoma City," The Oklahoman, August 22, 2016)"

Conviction Caused By:

Innocence Proved By:

In August 2016 the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals vacated Bell's conviction on the basis the prosecution introduced insufficient evidence of her giult beyond a reasonable doubt.

Defendant Aided By:

Compensation Awarded:

Was Perpetrator Identified?

Age When Imprisoned:

Age When Released:

Sex:

Female

Skin/Ethnicity:

White

Information Source 1:

"Convictions overturned for woman arrested during 2014 satanic "black mass" protest in Oklahoma City, By Kyle Schwab, The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City), August 22, 2016"

Information Location 1:

http://newsok.com/article/5514794

Information Source 2:

"Two arrested in connection with protests of 'black mass' in Oklahoma City, By Darla Slipke, The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City), September 22, 2014"

Information Location 2:

http://newsok.com/article/5344594

Information Source 3:

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Innocents Database Created and Maintained by Hans Sherrer innocents@forejustice.org

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