THE DREAD OF A LOST INNOCENCE
HELLO--
My name is Henry Gorham; I am 45 yrs. old Black man. I was born and
raised in
The gist of my plea is to seek legal assistance professional or a good law
student. I am grateful to any help that are rendering to my plight in
obtaining my release from incarceration.
Please allow me to give you a brief history on my past injustices and reason
I'm still incarcerated illegal. In 1975 I were convicted by an all white
prejudice jury in Chesapeake Virginia and given 25 years for an robbery, the
only evidence against me was I were black and had a scare on my face. I
was also convicted in Portsmouth Virginia an given ten (10) years in 1975 for a
robbery I had knowledge of but didn't give up information or testify against a
friend, so I were charged and sentence for the crime. The above two (2)
convictions caused my four (4) year probation to be revoked. I enter the
prisoner system at the age of 18 with a total of 39 years. I had no
formal education at the time.
In 1985 while in the corrupt state Virginia Penitentiary, I was within a year
of being consider to be released on parole. In April of 1985 a riot took
place in the prison due to the abuse of prisoner, prisoner were constantly
being beaten and having their food took as a way of intimidation and
controlling their behavior.
On the morning of April 18th, 1985 while prisoner was going to breakfast that
morning I were still in my cell in bed, everyone knew it were going to be
problems even the administration whom did not take heed to the grapevine talk
of a riot that morning.
All I was considering was I was within months of being released and it was best
to stay in my room. However, where the 15 minutes attack and assault was
over, several guards had been assaulted and stabbed.
Inmates was picked and locked up at Ramadon, where they were in the yard or
not, whoever a guard didn't like or had problems with in the past had his
opportunity to get even with on this day. Approximately 75 inmates were
looked up for investigation...Mainly as a scapegoat.
I was one of the many that was placed on investigation by the state
police. Three months later the state police cleared me from the
investigation, stating that I had no involvement in
these assaults.
Two of the prisoner's that were found to be involved, I had had problems with
them in the past, apparently they were upset and four (4) months later they
were so desperate for revenge against me they told the administration they
would testify and give name's of other involved. By the administration
being desperate to avoid the many lawsuits from the guards that got assaulted,
they agree with those two (2) inmates, if they testify they will give them good
time and transfer them out of state to a safe place.
Months later I was indicted and sent warrants of three (3) assaults through the
mail. One assault was dismissed and I was given twenty (20) years each on
the other ones, a total of 40 year's, for a crime I never committed. Even
the guards whom I were convicted of assaulting knew me for years said they
couldn't say it was me because a mask was on the person.
These two inmate's Robert Smith and Carlton Langford that testified/lied on me
was my enemy of the past, they also testified on 8 or 9 more prisoners they
were afraid of and didn't like. There's no human way possible these two
prisoners could be in 9 or 10 different part of the prison to see every assault
they testified to, couple with their on admission they assaulted guards
also. They plead guilty and admitted they were involved, so how could
they possible do their crime and witness 10 other people's with mask on during
crimes at the same time?
Once I had been convicted, the corrupt
Inmate Robert Smith later submitted an legal notarized affidavit to the
Governor of Virginia, the Director of department of corrections, my attorney
and the court's, that I did not have no involvement in the assaults, he
admitted he lied on several prisoner that were convicted Just for the
"good time" and other payments of favor's he received.
With the recanted testimony of Smith and the state police investigation report
the court still refuse to let my appeal in due to no fault of mine but my
incompetent drug addictive attorney, whom was also corrupt and a worker of the
district attorney. This lawyer intentionally let 21 days expire.
His mistake shouldn't cause me to spend my life and die in prison for a crime I
never committed.
Every lawyer in
I now have legal documents to prove my innocent, but the problem is the court
won't consider it or entertain it due to my attorney incompetent in
intentionally allowing my 21 days time limitation past.
I seek any and all assistance or advice to obtain my release, for my other
entire sentence is completed, the mention bogus charges are the only thing
preventing me from my family. Please Help!!
Respectfully Yours,
Henry Gorham
Contact-->
Henry Gorham #106110
Red Onion State Prison
P.O. Box 1900
Pound, Virginia 24279
Or click onto: http://www.tiapenpals.com/gorham106110.htm
© Copyright 2003 Henry Gorham
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