OIP helps free 28th defendant

After languishing 27 years in prison for a murder and attempted murder he didn’t commit, Charles Jackson walked free Tuesday, thanks to the help of University of Cincinnati law students, professors and attorneys.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Robert C. McClelland ordered the 54-year-old Cleveland man’s release following a hearing in which his attorneys argued —and prosecutors agreed — he deserves a new trial.

Jackson’s attorneys, Mallorie Thomas and Donald Caster of the Ohio Innocence Project (OIP) at the UC College of Law which took up Jackson’s case, argued that the state violated Jackson’s right to a fair trial by not disclosing evidence favorable to him.

“It was a very quick and not well-investigated case. Alternate suspects weren’t interviewed by police,” said Thomas. “Charles Jackson wasn’t even there. Whoever murdered Joseph Travis is still out there.”

A Cleveland jury nevertheless convicted Jackson of aggravated murder and attempted murder and a judge sentenced him to consecutive terms of 20 years to life on the first charge and seven to 25 years on the latter. He received an additional three years for using a firearm during the crimes.

Jackson, who has always maintained his innocence, appealed his convictions, but his appeal was rejected in 1993.

Undaunted, Jackson continued to seek assistance and eventually contacted the OIP, one of the most well-known and successful innocence projects in the nation. Since its launch in 2003, the OIP has helped free 28 wrongfully convicted inmates who've collectively served more than 525 years in prison.

Those successes are made possible by second-year UC law school students who work with the OIP year-round to overturn wrongful convictions and right injustice.  

Under the supervision of attorneys, students work in pairs to dig through case files, interview witnesses and attorneys, piece together crime scenes and seek out the latest in forensic techniques, such as DNA testing, to apply to cases.

Jackson is the third Ohio man the OIP has helped release this year from lengthy prison sentences for crimes they did not commit.

Earlier this year, the OIP assisted Ru-El Sailor in walking free after serving 15 years in prison for a murder committed by his best friend. And in June, the OIP helped release Christopher Miller after serving 16 years for kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault and robbery.

After investigating Jackson’s claims, the OIP agreed to take his case and filed a motion for a new trial.  The two-year legal saga ended Tuesday when a judge vacated Jackson’s sentence and ordered him released from prison.

“He was very happy. He smiled and cried,” said Thomas. “His whole family was here, 20 people hugging and crying.”

What will Jackson do now? After 27 years in prison, the prospect of release is a bit overwhelming, but Thomas says Jackson has a strong family support system and a resilient work ethic.

“All he wants to do is be reunited with his family,” she said. “Now he’s going to be home in time for Christmas.”

Pierce Reed contributed to this story

Charles Jackson's OIP legal team is comprised of UC faculty, staff and students. Here are the OIP members who made Jackson's freedom a reality:

Staff members: Mallorie Thomas and Donald Caster, former staff member Liza Deitrich

Students: Cara Daggit, Maddy High, Jordan Blake, Mackenzie Mercer, Jefferson Kisor, Joe Everhart and Devin Wylie. 

OIP staff members Jennifer Paschen Bergeron and Brian Howe also contributed significantly to this case.