Wrongly Convicted Database Record

 

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Roland Chretien

 

Charge:

Sexual Assault (includes aggravated)

Sentence:

6 to 12 years

Years Imprisoned:

4

Year Crime:

2003

Year Convicted:

2005

Year Cleared:

2008

U.S. State or Country of Crime:

Massachusetts

County or Region of Crime:

Rockingham

City of Crime:

Plainstow

Result:

Judicially Exonerated Released

Summary of Case:

"Ronald Chretien was wrongly convicted in January 2005 of sexually assaulting a 46-year-old woman based solely on her eyewitness testimony. Chretien was convicted by a judge after a bench trial. Roland Chretien was sentenced to 6 to 12 years in prison. After his conviction was up held on direct appeal and his state habeas was denied, Chretien filed a writ of habeas corpus in federal court in February 2007. The judge granted an evidentiary hearing, during which the alleged victim admitted that after accusing Chretien she had falsely accused another man of sexual assault. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph LaPlante granted Chretien's writ of habeas corpus in July 2008 on the basis that his jury didn't know the information that cast doubt on her credibility, and if they had it is reasonable to believe their verdict would have been different. In October 2008 the charges were dismissed and Chretian was released."

Conviction Caused By:

Allleged victim fabricated claim that Roland Chretian sexually assaulted her.

Innocence Proved By:

"U.S. District Court Judge Joseph LaPlante granted Chretien's writ of habeas corpus in July 2008 on the basis that his jury didn't know the information that cast doubt on her credibility, and if they had it is reasonable to believe their verdict would have been different. "

Defendant Aided By:

Compensation Awarded:

Was Perpetrator Identified?

Age When Imprisoned:

46

Age When Released:

50

Sex:

Male

Skin/Ethnicity:

White

Information Source 1:

"Victim's lie led to convict's release, By Shawn Regan, Eagle Tribune (North Andover, MA), September 29, 2008"

Information Location 1:

http://www.eagletribune.com/punewshh/local_story_273111645.html?keyword=topstory

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

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