|
Wrongly Convicted Database Record
|
Charge: |
Murder |
Sentence: |
Life Imprisonment |
Years Imprisoned: |
11.25 |
Year Crime: |
1989 |
Year Convicted: |
1991 |
Year Cleared: |
2004 |
U.S. State or Country of Crime: |
Illinois |
County or Region of Crime: |
Cook |
City of Crime: |
Chicago |
Result: |
Judicially Exonerated Released |
Summary of Case: |
"Juan Johnson was co-defendant of his brother Henry Johnson. Both men wrongly convicted of a 1989 murder, after Chicago police detective Reynaldo Guevara directed witnesses to pick Johnson out of a lineup. One of the actual killers told authorities that neither Johnson brother had anything to do with the crime. The Illinois Appellate Court vacated the conviction of both men in May 2002. Both brothers were released on bail in November 2002 after 11 years and 3 months imprisonment. To resolve his case, Henry took a plea bargain for time served with no probation. After a week-long retrial Juan Johnson was acquitted on February 23, 2004 after the jury deliberated for a couple of hours. In February 2005 Juan Johnson filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the City of Chicago for his wrongful imprisonment. On June 19, 2009 a federal court jury awarded Juan Johnson $21 million in compensatory damages from the City of Chicago, and $15,000 from Reynaldo Guevara, the police officer who arrested him. The city appealed, and Johnson agreed to settle the case for $16.4 million. Henry Johnson's conviction stands because of the plea deal he took to resolve his case after he was released on bail to await his retrial, even though 14 men whose convictions were based on misconduct by Guevara's have had their charges dismissed or been acquitted after a retrial." |
Conviction Caused By: |
"Chicago Police Department Detective Reynaldo Guevara fabricated testimony and evidence to implicate suspects in a crime that included diecting witnesses who to pick out of a lineup, and extracting false confessions by beatings and torture. As of November 2019 14 men had their convictions overturned and charges dismissed or acquitted after a retrial due to Guevara's criminal conduct: Juan Johnson in 2004; Jacques Rivera in 2011; Jose Montanez and Armando Serrano in July 2016; Robert Almodovar and William Negron in April 2017; Jose Maysonet in November 2017; Gabriel Solache and Arturo DeLeon-Reyes in December 2017; Thomas Sierra in January 2018; Ariel Gomez in February 2018; Ricardo Rodriguez in March 2018; Robert Bouto in June 2018; and, Geraldo Iglesias in January 2019." |
Innocence Proved By: |
"The Illinois Appellate Court vacated his conviction in May 2002, and he was acquitted in February 2004 after a retrial." |
Defendant Aided By: |
In his criminal case a team of three lawyers with the Chicago law firm of Jenner & Block represented Juan Johnson pro bono. Represented in civil lawsuit by Chicago based law firm of Loevy & Loevy. |
Compensation Awarded: |
"$16,400,000 (City of Chicago, 2009)" |
Was Perpetrator Identified? |
|
Age When Imprisoned: |
19 |
Age When Released: |
30 |
Sex: |
Male |
Skin/Ethnicity: |
Black |
Information Source 1: |
"Record verdict -- Former gang member awarded $21 million for wrongful conviction, By Ben Meyerson, Chicago Tribune, June 23, 2009" |
Information Location 1: |
"http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-federal-police-lawsuitjun23,0,3802704.story" |
Information Source 2: |
"Man Sues, Says He was Wrongly Convicted, Chicago Tribune, February 23, 2005" |
Information Location 2: |
"http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0502230239feb23,1,4364376.story?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed" |
Information Source 3: |
"Frame-up Victims Declared Innocent, by Ruth Peña and Joe Iosbaker, Fightbacknews.org, Winter 2004, Vol. 7, No. 1" |
Information Location 3: |
http://www.fightbacknews.org/2004/01winter/extra/frameup.htm |
Information Source 4: |
"15-Year Battle Ends With Victory for Firm’s Pro Bono Client, Robert J. Blazejowski, Jenner & Block Press Release, March 13, 2004" |
Information Location 4: |
http://www.jenner.com/people/specific.asp?print=true&type=news&id=358 |
Information Source 5: |
|
Information Location 5: |
|
Book About Case: |
|
Book Information: |
|
Book About Case (2): |
|
Book Information (2): |
|
Movie About Case: |
|
Comments About Case: |
Innocents Database Created and Maintained by Hans Sherrer innocents@forejustice.org