Episodios

  • The Guy Miles Story: How Flawed Eyewitness Identification Led to 18 Years in Prison

    The Guy Miles Story: How Flawed Eyewitness Identification Led to 18 Years in Prison
    Aug 15 2024
    Guy Miles was wrongfully convicted after being misidentified by an eyewitness during a robbery investigation in Orange County, California. Although he had once been involved in gangs during his youth, he left that life behind and moved to Nevada for a fresh start. Unfortunately, his past followed him when his photo was included in a “six-pack lineup.” An eyewitness mistakenly identified him as one of the perpetrators, which ultimately led to a life sentence. It would take a random speeding ticket, admissions from the true criminals, DNA evidence, a recanting investigator, 18 years in prison, and a “Dark Plea” deal to finally set him free. Tune in to hear this harrowing real-life account of wrongful incarceration from the man who lived through it. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:42 Guy Miles Sets the Scene 05:16 Why Police Use a Photo Lineup 07:27 The Trial 09:53 His Family's Response 11:15 Finding an Innocence Group 12:18 Meeting the Real Perpetrator in Prison 13:17 Six Alibis Testified 14:32 The Speeding Ticket 16:25 "The California 12" 17:33 The Court of Appeal 19:22 From Rejection to Rejection to Plea Deal 25:14 Guy's Release from Prison 28:48 Life After Prison
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    31 m
  • Dark Pleas: Trading Innocence for Freedom in Post Conviction Deals

    Dark Pleas: Trading Innocence for Freedom in Post Conviction Deals
    Aug 1 2024
    Imagine being in prison for decades. You’ve been fighting your appeal for many years. Your lawyer believes you’ll get a new trial but there is no guarantee that you’ll win your freedom. Suddenly, the prosecution offers a plea deal. You can go free but there’s a catch... You have to admit you’re guilty.
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    31 m
  • Angela’s Story: A Dark Plea in Exchange for Freedom

    Angela’s Story: A Dark Plea in Exchange for Freedom
    Jul 18 2024
    On November 20th 1999, Angela Garcia’s home caught on fire. Surprised and crawling in the dark, she was not able to find her children before the blaze forced her to jump out of a 2nd floor window. She ran to get help but tragically her children would die before anyone could reach them. The State wrongfully accused and convicted her of arson and murdering her family. After nearly 20 years in prison, the prosecution’s case began to fall apart for lack of evidence. A “dark plea” was offered to Angela in May of 2016. If she accepted, she would be released from incarceration in 5 years. But there was a catch, she would have to admit to guilt. What would you do? This is her story.
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    29 m
  • Plea Deals: Why Innocent People Give Up and Go to Prison

    Plea Deals: Why Innocent People Give Up and Go to Prison
    Jun 20 2024
    Believe it or not, there are many reasons to plead guilty when you’re not. ----- Plea deals are necessary to fight crime. Without them, our criminal justice system would grind to a halt, and the bad guys would run free. The downside is that plea deals can ensnare innocent people. Even more scary, once you admit to a crime you didn’t commit, it can take decades to get you out of prison. So why would anyone plead guilty to something they didn’t do? Tune in to hear why with host Michael Semanchik and special guests Justin Brooks, founder of the California Innocence Project, and former Los Angeles County Prosecutor Wayne Little.
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    48 m
  • Marilyn’s Story: A Plea Deal Turned Deadly

    Marilyn’s Story: A Plea Deal Turned Deadly
    Jun 6 2024
    Marilyn Mulero was wrongfully suspected of a Chicago gang murder in 1992. Naive to the criminal justice system, she was frightened into signing a statement by threats of the death penalty from law enforcement. Failing to adequately investigate the case, her attorney pressured Marilyn into making a risky blind plea deal with the court. That gamble turned into the death penalty. This is her story.
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    30 m
  • Junk Science - Undoing the Damage

    Junk Science - Undoing the Damage
    May 23 2024
    When forensic evidence gets it wrong, how do we free the innocent? ----- In our history of criminal prosecutions, some types of evidence ended up being unreliable. Forensic sciences like bite-mark identification, arson investigations, and shaken baby syndrome sent many innocent people to prison. So where does that leave us? How do we make it right? Lindsay Herf, executive director for the Arizona Justice Project joins host Michael Semanchik to discuss junk science and ways to protect innocent people. Special thanks to our sponsor Clio.
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    19 m
  • Junk Science - Shaken Baby Syndrome

    Junk Science - Shaken Baby Syndrome
    May 9 2024
    In the 1980s and 1990s, Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) was a popular medical theory used to arrest and convict innocent parents of fatally abusing their children. Unknown at the time, this theory was severely scientifically flawed. Unfortunately, erroneous data collection led experts to believe certain brain injuries in children could only be the result of abusive shaking. What they didn’t realize was that those “signature” injuries could also be caused by short-falls and disease. It would take decades to unravel their blind faith in this junk science. It is unknown how many innocent parents remain behind bars for a crime they didn’t commit. Host Michael Semanchik is joined by Katherine Bonaguidi. She is nationally recognized for her expertise in Shaken Baby Syndrome. Formerly a staff attorney with the California Innocence Project, today she works as a San Diego County Public Defender. Special thanks to our sponsor Clio.
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    47 m
  • Junk Science - Bloodstains & Bite Marks

    Junk Science - Bloodstains & Bite Marks
    Apr 25 2024
    What happens when forensic science is later found to be false? ----- Forensic science is a cornerstone of our criminal justice system. Unfortunately, not all sciences used to prosecute people are reliable. So what happens when forensic science is later debunked? Does that mean everyone convicted by it goes free? The short answer is no. Tune in to hear why.
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    25 m