Thomas Clifford McGowan (rape conviction)

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Charge:	Rape
Sentence:	Life Imprisonment
Years Imprisoned:	22.75
Year Crime:	1985
Year Convicted:	1986
Year Cleared:	2008
U.S. State or Country of Crime:	Texas
County or Region of Crime:	Dallas
City of Crime:	Richardson
Result:	Judicially Exonerated Released
Summary of Case:	"Thomas McGowan was wrongly convicted on March 7, 1986 of a May 1985 rape in Dallas County, Texas based on the victim's identification. He was sentenced to life in prison. In December 1985 he had been convicted of burglary of the woman's apartment, and for that crime he was also sentenced to life in prison. McGowan's two life sentences were to be served consecutively. In 2008 DNA testing unavailable at the time of his trial excluded him as the woman's assailant and he was released in April 2008 after almost 23 years of wrongful imprisonment. Officially exonerated by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on June 11, 2008. It was announced on June 17, 2008 that the DNA matched a man imprisoned on another charge, and when confronted, Kenneth Woodson admitted to the crime, but the five-year statute of limitations had expired so he wouldn't be charged. As of 2012, McGowan had been paid $2,051,995 in compensation by the State of Texas."
Conviction Caused By:	Erroneous eyewitness identification of the victim.
Innocence Proved By:	In 2008 DNA testing unavailable at the time of his trial excluded him as the woman's assailant and he was released in April 2008 after 23 years of wrongful imprisonment.
Defendant Aided By:	Innocence Project New York
Compensation Awarded:	"$1,826,666.67 lump sum payment plus $10,242.20 monthly annuity (State of Texas, 10-23-2009)"
Was Perpetrator Identified?	Yes
Age When Imprisoned:	24
Age When Released:	47
Sex:	Male
Skin/Ethnicity:	Black
Information Source 1:	"Richardson man becomes 16th dallas county inmate cleared by dna since 2001, Dallas Morning News, April 17, 2008"
Information Location 1:
Information Source 2:	"Dna frees man who spent almost 23 years in prison for rape, The Associated Press, April 17, 2008"
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Information Source 3:	"Texas Appeals court officially clears wrongly convicted man, International Herald Tribune, June 11, 2008"
Information Location 3:	http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/11/america/NA-GEN-US-DNA-Exoneration.php
Information Source 4:	"After 23 Years, One More Wrongfully Convicted Dallas Man Tastes Freedom, By Robert Wilonsky, Dallas Observer, April 17 2008"
Information Location 4:	http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2008/04/clay_graham_a_newly_minted.php
Information Source 5:
Information Location 5:
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Thomas Clifford McGowan (rape conviction)

Charge:

Rape

Sentence:

Life Imprisonment

Years Imprisoned:

22.75

Year Crime:

1985

Year Convicted:

1986

Year Cleared:

2008

U.S. State or Country of Crime:

Texas

County or Region of Crime:

Dallas

City of Crime:

Richardson

Result:

Judicially Exonerated Released

Summary of Case:

Conviction Caused By:

Erroneous eyewitness identification of the victim.

Innocence Proved By:

In 2008 DNA testing unavailable at the time of his trial excluded him as the woman's assailant and he was released in April 2008 after 23 years of wrongful imprisonment.

Defendant Aided By:

Innocence Project New York

Compensation Awarded:

"$1,826,666.67 lump sum payment plus $10,242.20 monthly annuity (State of Texas, 10-23-2009)"

Was Perpetrator Identified?

Yes

Age When Imprisoned:

24

Age When Released:

47

Sex:

Male

Skin/Ethnicity:

Black

Information Source 1:

"Richardson man becomes 16th dallas county inmate cleared by dna since 2001, Dallas Morning News, April 17, 2008"

Information Location 1:

Information Source 2:

"Dna frees man who spent almost 23 years in prison for rape, The Associated Press, April 17, 2008"

Information Location 2:

Information Source 3:

"Texas Appeals court officially clears wrongly convicted man, International Herald Tribune, June 11, 2008"

Information Location 3:

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/11/america/NA-GEN-US-DNA-Exoneration.php

Information Source 4:

"After 23 Years, One More Wrongfully Convicted Dallas Man Tastes Freedom, By Robert Wilonsky, Dallas Observer, April 17 2008"

Information Location 4:

http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2008/04/clay_graham_a_newly_minted.php

Information Source 5:

Information Location 5:

Book About Case:

Book Information:

Book About Case (2):

Book Information (2):

Movie About Case:

Comments About Case: