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 Portsmouth, Virginia. I have been in prison going into my
29th straight years for charges I was falsely accused, charged and convicted
of from a prison riot I had no involvement 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 Virginia department of corrections
sent me out to various prisons all across the country and destroyed most of
my legal material preventing me to appeal and missing the 21 days time limitation
to get back in court.
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 Richmond Virginia knew the department was corrupted from
the Director whom was selling transfers to less security institutional, to
the guards who were the biggest drugs seller in the prison. The two
guards that lied against me was drugs dealer whom I had ripped off in the
past. Robert Smith was an serial rapist whom had four life sentence,
no consciousness or nothing to lose by lying on me, this man had be convicted
of 50+ crimes and stated 50 on the stand. Needless to say, he was caught
in several major lies on the stand which should have cleared me of these bogus
crimes.
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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