se
old Cooper. ea ican-Americ in han an death roquadruple The allegeddcuffs and ha New w inmate in ci Cooper’s 1som’s decision could d en Flori t wa making ouda Today reports t Hills famil 985 conviction in lead to the overtu t. y th rn A an e u in th k d g il o li th ri E of ng of a ru has the ti say t nough Of Y eir 11-y our Love”esan Californiapnotential, some polieatir-old house guest. ral Chino da s. The case cal watcher s say, to d Both the C ivide alifornia an and more th d nited S past appeals an a dozen lower U tates suprem courts hav . e rejected Ce courts “I take no p ooper’s osition regar nocence at about the h this time,” Newsodming Mr. Cooper’s g uilt igh-profile said in his terest. N executive oor inse free 2. When you see a photo or ad with the Observer 1.ew Get the appca for by downloading th at Y h o as rk d rder rawn intern Times’ colu Sen. Kamal at m Interactive logo scan over the whole photo with your it from Google Play or The Apple App a io n is H n al t arri Nic in have all ca lled for res -tand reality TV starholas Kristof, U.S.tablet or smartphone. forensic Store technology. esting using curr Kim Kardashian SUL ent, more The ACLU gorilla suitPHUR, La. (AP) – P se n si an ti ve groups hav d other hu mattress befbroke into a Louisiaol man rights e also urged o n a deeper in an C d alifornia st News ouretl officers arrested ha ves gation ate officialsos cial justice et into Cooper s Gov. Newtiso sp q u o k o es te to m Mel E launch ’s con m’s tion issu st in ThSuulphu officers saan by formerorder Friday expandviction. w Jeremie es rsday test four ed s G p co o Moran wal re v. st vious direc ume. They rry Brown kin lowed analpyieces of crime scenJe h ad in so rece D ember n looking in to an orange sts to perform DNe evidence. Brownec to homes.ived calls a ’s E to A o st es prosecutors wel; and the han re-testing on a tan rder al- bo proached bsays Moran ran in dle dies in the say Cooper T-shirt; to u was disco Serving Los Angeles County R In this new used in theand sheath of a hat y ch en ar ’s ges inclutdin vered hidain chet Joshua Ryen, the home with a tota murders. investigatio of hair from for Over 35 Years g re tr sistin y, meth poss lo vic wound on button Co the victims’ hannd, analysts will look his throat.tims’ 8-year-old sofn143 stab wounds. ing in the sion and wg an offic In Louisiaes at strands tack. oper’s attorn s, blood sam , H S su an e ff w B er as tigators pla er ed n th n a, a personearing a m the allegatio ar a e only surv ples and a g ey N in public ca After Coop convicte ns Cooperd’sino County are not ivor of theslash D.A reen n Angeles Co nted at the sceneorman Hile mainta b e m er .’s o su at s’ st at legally stay s jail break rprised abo office. Man . Exception sentenced to th torneys are vestigation unty Superior Couof the crime. A reins inves- al ed , u s ra y in t m ar in ci v o h ak e es al f o allowed for re a ho lidays like H tigat th biases and . so y they tire rt judge wil frequently ing about their relig discriminem alloween an found eviduse next door to thoers found, he il- complaints l oversee thd Los familsa Cooper, 61 co m It at p ’s la io d Mardi G unclear if M ence in the y’s station w in about are handled n in the w e invictims. Th , has main years. His la g an m R g ay . o ag en y ta ey Ju p ra en o th ro t. in n st n ’s wyers hope eir cases or se tor Mic ed has a lawy last month that tied C h For me, G by Gov. the results his innocence over , a San Ber ooper to thome and in the under presscu hael Selyem ov. Newsom ing in thesoca ewsom, w ure for mak of the re-tes nardino e murders. , th w help provN ’s e h o h se o o rd ic n is h is er so in W b co to tin ci ei g met w o uld take se e their clie him. ith dismayb. roaden DNA test- chelle Oal media. His insultgscrude and racist anhdite, resigned veral mongthordered pof rtthe murders Joshn nt’s innoce ua Ryen an bam ta eted fo The lone su comments n er s, ce s w o an il f l d th B d e rm fi lack shooti a, U,S. Rep. Maxrg In 1 rvivor nally exon ine Waters er First Lady Ming victim. erate they are disappoRinyens and Hughesfaalmily, friends and su on four co9u85, a San Diego Co and an unn “Unfortunat ted with the gov l across the state p- Lo Thomas R. Parker amed 26 and an nts of murder. At unty jury convicte s Angeles o ernor’s decis , el sa a y, fo y fo es th d r o rm ca v C ju e er ti o p er st o ed m ti ic ffi per d m io e of his arre e ep ce cord - inclu prison inm n in e , u . it b ty th el se is h ie ems the vic ead of the Th case mat no District st ate. His len ding se eral FBI’s tims’ desire “The evis guy is innocenvt,es Cooper. in AttoNewspapers ss an gthy crim,inhe wasObserver burglaries an rney Jasonters leof d less,” SanCalifornia “Prior DGroup lvania – dvid ” he told th idence was Volume 35 NumberPen 14nsy Southern Thursday, February 20, 2020 al re d N A n th A B d er o e rape of a not help his te er e p n n Cooper, form st la so N ar th in n ew n d te e g icl sa d st th aimed wou Y , id an o at h rk d minor e in M .” case. w T r. a as im erly named in 1958 nea C st framed, th es. W per’s guilt.” ld exonerate him ooper sought, agre atement. e cops lied months old r Pittsburgh, PenRichard Goodman, have all con ed to and a federalhat has kept the case n w , ap sy fi g h as Y o rm lv e p et in born ella court ania. When was ed Mr. Coo p During h ’s decisiong - and Cooper alive - ecution and reviete he was six monies andersuasive arguments childhoodad, opted and renamed LAKE FOR and he spis in 2004 o w al b th as le h K e g ed is at ev ca G p io o re se in o EST ar en n n v. as is recoverin stay his exisjuvenile det t a good part of ents physically ab Cooper. gat onable questions s of evidence tamp conflicting testi- DNA te Newsom’s decisiowith more scien t g after bei,nCalif. (AP) – Offici ti fi ad u ab st er c en y se n o o in o ev in o rs d ti n le u to g g id o g struck by u t sc h ro , n se co th en im k al en ad in South centers. In a mental d to ail Co ee e ethods low another m ce. ce living in a polic ern Californ and storiesp raising California Governoes early in the term oper. Threm several attack, and in nsw round of L ag Californiah. ealth facility in Pen1982, Cooper esca u n e h in r a av w w o v eapons wer f the progre estie high expec hose suppo orn testimo ped from three attacker nsylvania b the Orange Beach Police Offi ia. e rt u ta ss er n se iv ti y, s d o e on the poli s who were efore movin n Jo Duri someone’s p County Register h cer Thomas tical Left White. Heshua Ryen said hein the solve “DNA testing shs.o g to could have been H gued that nCg his murder trial, e itially th et when th saw later testified uld immed th is p e o p F an o R ro eb. 19. F p ic y se u e cat dartein er en . rt cu k h iately take Ryen, their illed husban case and fi tors succes er complica that they Chiang sa d in front an sf n p 1 ti d n al 0 la u id n am -y an ll ly ce g y d ea d M th ed D ensure just uring the ca to rearr-o w e rosecuti cGuire says neighbor C that DNA ic ons’ claims, m e hristopherld daughter Jessica ifane Doug and Peggy belonging toiana Roper came foprw w th p is h ev ai e en he got o animal was a wom- but testing idence can help la gn. “Not only is served,” her former Hughes. Po d ut to chec d with bloo in this case w enforcem boyfriend ar it proven lice foundan 11-year-old inal. She turned Animal Cobigger than a house dy clothin w w en th the bloodie E h o n o d t g e u v tr estroyed it. solvEL was a violen ld come at en though evidence ov t. o to l o an e ffi cr ce an SEGUNDO – Kobe Bryant has been named im d rs rushed ca imal hospit es, tr no cost to th Newsom’s t crim- is bold, he is er to the p the ble al au African Am , d o w ec e m li tr h st is ce a. ea er at io , a finalist for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of d e e. n b in is it ” u in su g t w th er ca e that as diagnose the Cooper icans, Hisp ey refu By Ricky Richardson r. Kriannounced anics and o caseof 2020, itDwas watching. California voters acllroy on a potentialFame’s sti Krause, today. ly polaClass ther minori sh H e ss a e ex v th Contributing Writer is ri p et ec zi e k er n p ts ee inthe g ball oli ties liv- Co ping his fo thof ariaLos e 1his n, tells th 1-pcareer ound with ac20 ntinued o trum arspent k inseasons cus on fairtical specBryant (5-k to th Los Angeles-Black History Month was celebrated e and ilogNBA e wilthe n page A nesAngeles ram) cat to helped lead team to five d s and juLakers af te r 2 M it cGu ehisviscareer. regains NBA stice in a huge way in Leimert Park Village, Sunday, February st ngth. Championships throughout ited theNamed th at if he seir bobcat ore es it agthe 16, 2020, from 11:00-7PM. n Friday ain,2007-08 Most Valuable Player following he’ll issueseason, A large diverse crowd, people from all walks of ticket for ja. Bryant averaged 25.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 aassists life gathered in Leimert Park Village in a spirit of One Love and 1.4 steals in 1,346 games with Los Angeles. The and Positivity. league’s fourth all-time leading scorer earned All-NBA This vibrant, culturally enriching celebration honors 15 times, was named to the NBA All-Defensive engulfed several blocks, between 43rd and Degnan Team 12 times and was named an NBA All-Star 18 Boulevard, in Leimert Park Village, the heart of the African times in his career. American culture in Los Angeles. The Lakers’ all-time leading scorer recorded 122 Attendees strolled around to engage in various career 40-point games, 176 career double-doubles and workshops that dispensed useful information-the two that 21 triple-doubles, and helped lead the United States stood out was the ARC-Anti-Recidivism Coalition and the to gold medals at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London presentation by author Thomas “TJ’ Loftin (Monetizing Olympic Games. His Nos. 8 and 24 jerseys were raised Gentrification-Building Black Ownership), perused the into the STAPLES Center rafters in 2017, making him the first player in NBA history to have two numbers retired by the same team.
Welcome to Observer Interactive
Deeper Content. Pictures Move. Ads Talk. Live Shopping.
Free!
Man in Go Breaks in r Hides UndH e
Celebrating BLACK HISTORY Month
News Observer Los Angeles
We Be Jammin’ at the Black History Month Festival in Leimert Park Village
Bobcat Re After Beincove Police Car g Hi Kobe Bryant Named Finalist for Basketball Hall of Fame
California School to be Named for Michelle Obama RICHMOND, Calif. (AP) _ A San Francisco Bay Area school district voted Wednesday to name an elementary school after former First Lady Michelle Obama. The board of the West Contra Costa Unified School District unanimously voted to rename Wilson Elementary School in Richmond as Michelle Obama Elementary School. The wife of President Barack Obama is known for her support of educational and child health programs. “She is a role model for our children and we strive to serve our students with the same kind of love, advocacy, and courage that she served our country,” Board President Stephanie Hernandez-Jarvis said in a statement. The school’s PTA had proposed the name change. It will be the first school in Northern California and the second in the state to be named in Michelle Obama’s honor, the district said. The other school is in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Panorama City. Wilson Elementary was named for Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of the United States. The school currently is closed for reconstruction and its 430 students have been using a temporary campus in El Cerrito. A new state-of-the-art school facility bearing Michelle Obama’s name is expected to open in time for the 2020-21 school year, according to the district.
Empress AKUA. (Ricky Richardson Photo)
WADADA (Ricky Richardson Photo)
creative arts and crafts that were on display and of course, partake in some mouthwatering Southern and Caribbean foods. The Black History Month Festival was hosted by Deriq Carr and Teresa King. DJ Fly dropped some dope rhythms while manning the one and twos. The big draw was the outstanding line-up of entertainment. Anani Culture got the show underway with some rhythmic West African drumming. The group consisted of Jamaiel Shabaka- lead vocals and djembe
drums, Sheryl-djembe drums and Will Gordon-dun dun. The festival featured many wonderful groups gospel, jazz, soul, R&B and the infectious, conscious raising sounds of reggae. I was fortunate to see and hear sets performed superbly by Empress AKUA, Isabell Requena and Cultural Soul led by WADADA. The 2nd Annual Black History Month Festival celebrated and paid homage to those African Americans in the past and present that have left a lasting legacy on the global African diaspora.
Falsely Accused Man Re-enters Society as an Attorney By Lauren Victoria Burke NNPA Newswire Contributor Jarrett Adams spent ten years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Adams was wrongfully convicted of sexual assault at age 17. He was then sentenced to 28 years in prison at a maximum-security prison. After filing numerous appeals Adams was exonerated with the assistance of the Wisconsin Innocence Project. Adams would end up serving close to 10 years before finally being exonerated in 2007. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin denied Adams’ petition for exoneration, but on June 20, 2006 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit overturned the District Court and vacated Adams’ conviction. The Wisconsin Innocence Project filed a petition on Adams’s behalf asserting there was insufficient evidence to convict Adams and that Adams’ lawyer had been ineffective for failing to locate and call a relevant witness. After his ordeal, Adams became active in the movement to assist those who have no resources to have their cases challenged and closely reviewed. After his false conviction and imprisonment, Adams earned a Juris Doctorate
degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in May 2015. On Wednesday, January 29, 2020, thirteen years after being exonerated, Adams was admitted to the Wisconsin State Bar. Adams was joined by Keith Findley, a co-founder of the Wisconsin Innocence Project at a ceremony celebrating his bar admission at the Wisconsin State Capitol. Founded in 1992 by attorney Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld in New York, The Innocence Project was created to assemble legal experts and law students in an effort to examine and investigate questionable cases and overturn wrongful convictions. As of November 17, 2019, the Innocence Project has worked on 189 successful DNA-based exonerations. The Innocence Project cites various studies estimating that between 2% and 5% of all prisoners in the U.S. are innocent. Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist for NNPA and the host of the podcast BURKEFILE. She is also a political strategist as Principal of Win Digital Media LLC. She may be contacted at LBurke007@gmail.com and on twitter at @LVBurke
Jarrett M. Adams was wrongfully convicted of sexual assault at age 17 and sentenced to 28 years in a maximum security prison. After serving nearly 10 years and filing multiple appeals, Jarrett was exonerated with the assistance of the Wisconsin Innocence Project. (Photo: jarrettadamslaw.com)
‘Old-Boy-Style Racism’ by Police Leads to $600K Settlement PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Former West Linn Police Chief Terry Timeus had his officers initiate an unwarranted, racially motivated surveillance and arrest of a black Portland man as a favor to the chief ’s fishing buddy. The case had no ties to West Linn. The city recently negotiated to pay $600,000 to the target of the rogue investigation, Michael Fesser, 48, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. It ends a federal lawsuit that Fesser filed in 2018. “This case vividly illustrates a ready willingness on the part of the West Linn police to abuse the enormous power they have been given, and a casual, jocular, oldboy-style racism of the kind that we Oregonians tend to want to associate with the Deep South rather than our own institutions,” Fesser’s lawyer Paul Buchanan said. Attorney Andrew Campbell, who represented West Linn in court, did not respond to a newspaper request for comment. West Linn Police said in a statement Tuesday that when the allegations were reported, an internal investigation was done and that swift and appropriate disciplinary personnel action was taken. “As we move forward, the West Linn Police Department strives to learn from both our past mistakes and our successes,” the statement said. The settlement is not admission of liability, according to the statement. The bold misdeeds by West Linn police included making a surreptitious audio recording of Fesser at work without a warrant or court order, arresting him without probable cause with the help of Portland police and seizing his cash, cellphone and documents without a search warrant, court records show. The case file includes racist and crude text messages between West Linn police and Fesser’s boss at the time. Fesser said he took legal action so this doesn’t happen to another black man.