Wrongly Convicted Database Record

 

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Gene Bibbins

 

Charge:

Child Sexual Assault and Burglary

Sentence:

Life Imprisonment

Years Imprisoned:

17

Year Crime:

1986

Year Convicted:

1987

Year Cleared:

2003

U.S. State or Country of Crime:

Louisiana

County or Region of Crime:

East Baton Rouge

City of Crime:

Baton Rouge

Result:

Judicially Exonerated Released

Summary of Case:

"Gene Bibbins was wrongly convicted in 1987 of raping a 13 year old girl based on the girls false identification and a radio belonging to the girl found in his possession. He claimed to have found the radio in the street. He was telling the truth, given the fact the girl testified a single man attacked her and Gene Bibbins was excluded as her attacker. Apparently her attacker grabbed the radio and then dropped it in his haste to get away. The results from two DNA tests unavailable at the time of his conviction excluded him as the girl's attacker. Bibbins was released from prison in December 2002. His convictions were vacated and the charges dismissed on March 7, 2003. Awarded $150,000 in compensation in February 2006 by the State of Louisiana. That was the maximum award allowed under Louisiana's compensation statute. Bibbins filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in February 2004 that named the City of Baton Rouge, the Baton Rough PD, and several police officers as defendants. On May 14, 2008 the City of Baton Rouge agreed to settle Bibbins federal civil rights lawsuit against the city for $1 million. Bibbins was to receive about $600,000 after his legal fees and a payment to the Innocence Project for work they performed on his 2003 exoneration. Gene Bibbins was represented in his civil suit by the New York City lawfirm of Neufeld Scheck & Brustin, LLP. Two of the partners in NS&B are Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld, co-founders of the non-profit Innocence Project in New York. In 2012 Bibbins was awarded an additional $100,000 by the State of Louisiana after it increased its maximum payment to $250,000."

Conviction Caused By:

False eyewitness testimony by the victim.

Innocence Proved By:

Post-conviction DNA testing excluded Bibbens as the perpetrator.

Defendant Aided By:

Compensation Awarded:

"$1.25 million total. $150,000 (State of Louisiana, Feb. 2006), $100,000 (State of Louisiana, 2012), and $1 million (City of Baton Rouge, May 2008)"

Was Perpetrator Identified?

Age When Imprisoned:

Age When Released:

Sex:

Male

Skin/Ethnicity:

Black

Information Source 1:

"After 16 Years, DNA Frees Man Imprisoned For Rape," (AP), Seattle Times, December 8, 2002, p. A12."

Information Location 1:

Information Source 2:

"Prison term worth 150,000, The Advocate (Baton Rouge), February 7, 2006"

Information Location 2:

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/2268586.html

Information Source 3:

"Metro council OKs $1 million settlement, By Scott Dyer, The Advocate (Baton Rouge), May 15, 2008"

Information Location 3:

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/18961794.html?showAll=y&c=y

Information Source 4:

"Gene Bibbins Awarded $1.15 Million For False Rape Conviction, By Hans Sherrer, Justice Denied magazine, May 21, 2008"

Information Location 4:

http://justicedenied.org/wordpress/archives/115

Information Source 5:

"City Sued in Wrongful Rape Conviction, By Penny Brown Roberts, WBRZ-TV (Baton Rouge, LA), February 26, 2004"

Information Location 5:

http://www.clpex.com/Articles/Newz/2004/2004-02-26-1.htm

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

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