|
Wrongly Convicted Database Record
|
Charge: |
Homicide by Child Abuse |
Sentence: |
18 years |
Years Imprisoned: |
9 |
Year Crime: |
2006 |
Year Convicted: |
2010 |
Year Cleared: |
2015 |
U.S. State or Country of Crime: |
New Mexico |
County or Region of Crime: |
Bernalillo |
City of Crime: |
Albuquerque |
Result: |
Judicially Exonerated Released |
Summary of Case: |
"Jeremy Nichols was wrongly convicted on May 5, 2010 of negligently permitting endangerment by medical neglect resulting in death or great bodily harm to his six month old son Kaden Nichols. Kaden had a twin brother, Jeremy. Nichols, 25, was charged on March 17, 2006, and after 46 days in custody he was released on $80,000 bail. During his trial that began in April 2010, Nichols defense was that bruising found on both of his sons was the result of the boys’ premature births and the many medical problems that followed. The prosecution relied on Kaden's condition to convince the jury to convict Nichols. On July 13, 2010 Nichols was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Nichols who had been allowed to remain free on bail while awaiting his trial and sentencing, was allowed to remain free on $200,000 bond pending the outcome of his appeal. On December 20, 2013 the New Mexico Court of Appeals affirmed Nichols conviction. The New Mexico Suprem Court accepted review of Nicols conviction. On November 19, 2015 the New Mexico Supreme Court overturned Jeremy Nichols' conviction on the basis the prosecution introduced insufficient evidence to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt that Nichols permitted the injuries or was negligent in getting medical care for his son. The dismissal of his charge was ordered. After the supreme court’s ruling Nichols’ attorney Raymond Maestas issued a statement to the press: “Jeremy Nichols is an innocent person, who was wrongfully accused by the Albuquerque Police Department, the Office of the Medical Investigator, and the District Attorney’s Office in a rush to judgment fueled by emotion rather than actual evidence – the very agencies whose job it is to do a full and fair investigation. He is and always was a great father, and everyone the police interviewed during their investigation said so.”" |
Conviction Caused By: |
|
Innocence Proved By: |
"On November 19, 2015 the New Mexico Supreme Court overturned Jeremy Nichols' conviction on the basis the prosecution introduced insufficient evidence to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt that Nichols caused the injuries or was negligent in getting medical care. The dismissal of his indictment was ordered." |
Defendant Aided By: |
Attorney Raymond Maestas |
Compensation Awarded: |
|
Was Perpetrator Identified? |
|
Age When Imprisoned: |
21 |
Age When Released: |
30 |
Sex: |
Male |
Skin/Ethnicity: |
White |
Information Source 1: |
"State v. Nichols, No. S-1-SC-34549 (NM Sup. Ct. 11-19-2015) (Conviction overturned based on insufficient evidence)" |
Information Location 1: |
"http://www.nmcompcomm.us/nmcases/nmsc/slips/SC34,549.pdf" |
Information Source 2: |
"After 9 years, dad is exonerated in death of twin son, By Scott Sandlin (Staff Writer), Albuquerque Journal ((Albuquerque, NM) November 23, 2015" |
Information Location 2: |
http://www.abqjournal.com/680545/abqnewsseeker/after-9-years-father-cleared-in-babys-death.html |
Information Source 3: |
"Verdict Reached In Nichols Case, By Staff writer, KOAT-TV (Albuquerque, NM), May 5, 2010" |
Information Location 3: |
http://www.koat.com/Verdict-Reached-In-Nichols-Case/6140160 |
Information Source 4: |
|
Information Location 4: |
"Nichols Gets 18 Years in Child Abuse Case, By ABQnews Staff, Albuquerque Journal, July 14th, 2010" |
Information Source 5: |
http://www.abqjournal.com/8380/abqnewsseeker/updated-nichols-gets-18-years-in-child-abuse-case.html |
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