Innocent Man Free After 26 Years In Prison

Alton Logan Freed On Bond After Being Granted A New Trial In Someone Else's Crime

(CBS/AP)  A man locked away 26 years for murder was granted a new trial and freed on bond Friday with the help of two attorneys who came forward with a client's confession after he died in prison.

Alton Logan's family took up a collection in the lobby of the Cook County Criminal Courthouse and quickly came up with the $1,000 they needed to post bond.

A dozen friends and family broke into applause as Logan, 54, exited the building. He tearfully said it felt "great" to be free before he was whisked away in a black SUV.

Logan's younger brother, Eugene Logan, was adamant that he would be freed after his retrial.

"Nobody deserves to be locked away for 26 years for something they didn't do," said Logan, 48, of Portland, Ore. "It's a blessing today that my brother's been released. He's not been exonerated yet, but we're going back to court, and it will happen."

As reported on CBS News' 60 Minutes in March, two attorneys recently revealed that their former client, Andrew Wilson, admitted to committing the crime that has sent Logan to prison, but attorney-client privilege had kept them from coming forward.

Wilson's death last year allowed the attorneys to unseal an affidavit stating that Logan was not responsible for the fatal shooting of security guard Lloyd Wickliffe at a McDonald's restaurant in January 1982.

Dale Coventry, one of the attorneys who signed the affidavit, said Friday night that he hopes prosecutors will acknowledge they went in the wrong direction with the case.

"Poor Mr. Logan was locked up all these years for something he didn't do and that's unfortunate that it worked out the way it did," Coventry said. "I wish (the release) had happened a lot sooner, but unfortunately there was no way to do anything."

The other attorney, W. Jamie Kunz, said he's hopeful for Logan's permanent release.

"At the time the judge was ruling on the new trial, I got a tear in my eye," Kunz said Friday evening. "And after the judge set bond, and I looked at the defense table and saw Alton Logan in tears, I cried too."

Logan told 60 Minutes correspondent Bob Simon that during the first five or six years of his sentence he was "consumed" by anger. "Then I come to the realization that 'Why be angry over something you can't control?'"

"See, I never stopped giving up hope. I've always believed that one day is gone-somebody's gonna come forth and tell the truth. But I didn’t know when," Logan told Simon.

It would be up to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office to prosecute the case because of a conflict of interest for the Cook County State's Attorney's office. Madigan's spokeswoman, Robyn Ziegler, said no decision had been made about a retrial.

"We will carefully review all the evidence in the case and then decide the appropriate next step," she said.

Logan's uncle, Arthur Gordon, 70, of Milwaukee, waited outside the jail, saying he knew his nephew was innocent.

"I knew he didn't do that because I had been talking to him over the years," Gordon said. "He kept his spirit. He said, 'Uncle I have to stay up. I can't go down. I can't go down."'

Logan's family planned to take him for a steak and lobster dinner on his first night of freedom.

"I'm going to turn him on to life," Eugene Logan said. "That's what we're going to do. We're going to live it together."

[spadeisspade]

This man spent 26 years in prison because of attorney-client privilege?! At what point is our judicial branch going to wake up and stop worrying about the rights of criminals and start being more concerned about the rights of the victims? Not only did this man spend a quarter of a decade in prison, but the family of the victim was robbed of seeing the actual murderer face justice. If I had been one of those lawyers, I''d have put my license on the line to see that man go free.

[michellem99-2009]

They want to have data base of dna of crimmals those locked up who like this gent was locked up..If they find out that person did no wrong wtil they remove his/her name and dna from that data base..He is a person of colour and so they locked his asre up..He has alot to catch up on..The lawyer who put him in prisom disbar that asre..My friend has lawyers in his family and he don''t likr them..The crimmals have all the rights..Yer asre in thowned in jail and yer the one that did it..Yrr got no rights..

[brianbwb-2009]

"Alton Logan Freed On Bond After Being Granted A New Trial In Someone Else''s Crime"

On Bond? Facing yet another trial for something he clearly did not do? This is a case of "double jeopardy", an unconstitutional perversion of law.

Here we see yet another clear example of how the Rev. Wright was correct, this man, shown to be not guilty, is still not a free man, a clear example of how once the system incarcerates a "Black" man, they are so very reluctant to simply free him once his innocence is proven, searching for any possible stretch of reason and law to keep this man behind bars.

[blazercoach1]

brianbwb,

If you can show another case exactly the same but where a white man was treated differently, you can make an argument. Without it, you''re reducing this man''s pain for your own political/social agenda.

[singingrick]

Imagine if he had been sentenced to death. He''d be dead now for something he didn''t do.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by blazercoach1

Given the obvious weakness and incorrectness of the evidence in the case, it is less likely that a "white" man would have even been convicted in such a case. Every statistical study available shows that the American justice system is much more likely to convict a "Black" man on flimsy, even false evidence, and once convicted, will be given a longer sentence than any "white" in the same circumstance. There are so many examples of this, from Reuben "Hurricane" Carter, to the young man in Georgia sentenced to ten years for an act of consensual eroticism, who has to fight for his freedom even though the law regarding his sentence was changed.

I personally know two people who did time in a California prison for pot possession, both, complete non smokers, were framed by a cop tossing three joints into their car. These types of injustice are far less likely to be visited upon "White" people.

The Bush administration, as another example, has clearly violated several laws, including treason, and conspiracy to violate laws as agreed to by the Geneva Convention on torture, yet the perpetrators remain uncharged.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by blazercoach1

Also, the implications of the "Jena 6" where "Black" people involved in altercations with "White" racists, were given entirely disproportionate sentences for their part in the actions, and the "White" people, including the one with the shotgun at the convenience store, weren''t even charged.

[excoachken]

Wonderful that he was released. Most cops and D.A.s do good work, but some are more political than honest.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by brianbwb at 02:20 AM

Excellent post. I wonder when people will get a clue. I remember too well how many disgusting people came on here and suggested that threatening hang nooses were protected freedoms of speech. I get so disgusted.

[rudy654-2009]

Most cops and D.A.s do good work, but some are more political than honest.


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Posted by excoachken at 03:53 AM

Most cops and DAs have few scruples with manipulating the evidence. They have a little philosophy that goes like this: If you aren''t guilty this time, you still are guilty for something unknown.

[mcvet]

Imagine if he had been sentenced to death. He''''d be dead now for something he didn''''t do.





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Posted by singingrick at 01:40 AM : Apr 19, 2008
+ report abuse

You are quite right, especially in the "NEW" South! LOL

[grunt1984-2009]

Free at last, Free at last, thank God free at last!!!




BTW, where the White Women at!!

[mcvet]

If you can show another case exactly the same but where a white man was treated differently, you can make an argument. Without it, you''''re reducing this man''''s pain for your own political/social agenda.


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Posted by blazercoach1 at 01:32 AM : Apr 19, 2008
+ report abuse

Man if you BELIEVE what you just posted then you are either awlful young or have your head in the sand. Now IF you were my age, if you''d faced off against those Terrorist in White Sheets, you''d KNOW different. Sieg Heil Grand Wizard.

[whatisit21]

How do you know the confession of a dead man isn''t fake? How do you know that white criminals are treated better than black criminals? Race isn''t the real issue. Your social status is. Lower class whites and lower class blacks are just small fish ready to fry. If your a rich white or a rich black you can walk out of most anything.
Even if they are caught on camera. As far as spending 26 years in prison as an innocent man means nothing to the upper class because both white and black lower class are trash.

[swwils]

Twenty six yrs. in prison,hell he is ruined,they better pay him good.Man,he missed so much that had been developed during his incarceration.Poor guy I couldn''t imagine being time machined 26 yrs.I hope this man finds peace,and the rest of his life is real cool.

[dowjones20k]

Compelling that these two LIARS (lawyers) used the dreaded "attorney/Client privilege) held this man''s fate in their hands for all these years ... I hope they slept well as they milked other clients and made thier money.

Another reason that the way we do business legally here in the USA is hypocritical ... How can these two feel good about what they have done? 26 years is a long time to allow an innocent man to sit in prison ...

These two should have to pay him and pay the state for his incarceration ...

PITIFUL !!!!

[boyntonbe]

The 2 lawyers who kept their mouth shut should be disbarrd and tar and feathered.

Our Nation promotes Human Rights around the globe and it is frequently a "legal" matter.

These two poor excuses for human beings let a man languish in prison for what??? An "honor" code??? That''s not honor, that''s criminal.

However, it does point out one thing: That lawyers have no conscience and "justice" is lost.

[boyntonbe]

whatisit21
I like your point. Our country is becoming more and more divided by economics than race. In a way, it is a good thing because it is a step forward toward anti-prejudice. On the other hand, it is an incredible sad commentary of arrogance and system manipulation.

How many times have you been at a gas station, and seen some youngster or woman driving an expensive ($50k plus) car, and know in your heart that they didn''t earn the money for the car but are born into a rich family or married wealthy.

Watch their arrogance as they put $50, 60 or 70 dollars into their car. They are proud and look down at someone else putting $40 of gas into a Nissan.

[rtmljaia]

I wish Mr. Logan all the best and am glad he is freed from his wrongful sentence. I don''t know how that lawyer can live with himself knowing all these years that an innocent man is in prison and the real killer was living a free life. I also hope the 3 so called eye witness never get a good nights rest. This is the first I heard about this story and it sickens me because I know there are probably more innocent people in prison. I pray for God blessings to be upon Mr. Logan and his family.

[bubbac308]

How did this turn into a race issue. It doesnt matter what color the man or woman is. The real problem here is our legal system that has become a greedy institution. first there are the police in all their glory to recieve the 3 or 4 dolars a ticket they right for their training fund. Then there are the prosecutors that plea bargain the charges around to collect their court costs and fees. then you have the lawyers collecting their fee''s so they canwine and dine the judge''s. No the real problem in this case isnt the race of a man on trial it is the legal system itself. Haw about all of us get together and right the lawmakers and demand the rules be changed. Shouldnt the Attorney client privalage not exist in a case such as this????? Just my thoughts

[tdcptrm]

These two poor excuses for human beings let a man languish in prison for what??? An "honor" code??? That''''s not honor, that''''s criminal
--------------------------------------------

I agree. When I read the original story a week or so ago it even said the 2 lawyers knew during Mr. Logan''s trial!! No wonder average people hate lawyers. If it were other than a lawyer that did something like this you can be sure there would be a lawyer somewhere who would right now be dreaming up a way to sue you.

[brianbwb-2009]

After the further demeaning step of having Mr. Alton exposed to double jeopardy, being tried again for a crime that someone else has already confessed to, Mr. Alton should make good on his promise to kick the Illinois dust off his shoes, move to San Francisco, sue the lawyers who obstructed justice, and sell his story to Hollywood for 20 or so million.

Skip "getting his life back", these lawyers should be made to buy him a new one.

[tonic1661]

wouldn''t a good human being forget the honor code and just get another profession other than lawyer.

probably easier said than done.

but a man''s best years and probably a third of his life if not more was lost so that the lawyer could protect his right to practice law. i hope the lawyer enjoyed all the money he made until his hide was safe and he could shed a tear at the trial to show what a nice caring human being he has been all along.

[actornaught]

And this is what''s faulty about the death penalty. When the ultimate judgement is applied by humans, mistakes happen, even honest mistakes. But mistakes are functionally guaranteed when some DA or cop is working the system to further their careers.

[formrusmcsgt]

But mistakes are functionally guaranteed when some DA or cop is working the system to further their careers.

Posted by actornaught at 10:30 AM : Apr 19, 2008

...because they are more interested in convictions than justice.

[wardoglrs]

The criminal system speaks for its self...CRIMINAL. Think about it

[hawksprings]

"It''s ALL George W Bush''s fault that this ever happened to this poor man!"
DNC Statement 4-18-08

[fabrat1]

My daughter intends to be an attorney but now that she''s almost done with high school and a lot closer to starting college she has concerns. She just keeps thinking "what if I do something like this?" "What if I put an innocent person in jail?" I don''t blame her for feeling this way because of all the media lately about that very thing. It''s just so sad to think of all the things he missed while he was in prison. It''s not like he was there for a few years we''re talking about 26 years here!! Yeah he''ll probably get money out of it and it will probably be a lot of money but what good is the money really? It can''t turn back the hands of time. I understand that the attorneys felt like they couldn''t say anything but I don''t know how they slept at night knowing what they had done. I heard the interview with the attorneys and I still think that if they had really wanted to they would have found a way to let someone, anyone know about what their client had done!!

[mcvet]

I heard the interview with the attorneys and I still think that if they had really wanted to they would have found a way to let someone, anyone know about what their client had done!!


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Posted by fabrat1 at 11:10 AM : Apr 19, 2008

If your daughter get to ACTUALLY join the ranks of people who are OFFICERS of the COURT, she''ll understand. The back bone of our society it the system. Attorneys who are to give a defendent a proper defense MUST have all the details. For then to get all the details the defendant or anyone who has retained the person to represent them MUST feel they can tell that person ALL there is to know. Can''t you folks SEE that IF it wasn''t for the privilage those Attorneys NEVER know the truth... they do NOT get that info and thus the injustice is NEVER corrected. What reason would the guilty man have had to tell the Attorney if he though, even for a minute, that the Attorney would tell someone else?? THINK!! People THINK!! To act like the Attorney would have had the info without this PROTECTION is not smart at all. THEY DO NOT!! HE''s STILL in JAIL. We need to look at the OTHER side of this thing... why did the STATE fail to get the right person should be our focus.

[mcvet]

"It''''s ALL George W Bush''''s fault that this ever happened to this poor man!"
DNC Statement 4-18-08


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Posted by hawksprings at 11:01 AM : Apr 19, 2008
+ report abuse

You have FASCISM really bad don''t you? I mean YOU need to create a little hate for your Hate Target so bad you would use this poor man''s situation to do it. ALL for the "Party" huh??? Sieg Heil Bush!! Come on get the hood and sheet out...that''s what you''ve wanted all along anyway... Now let those stupid red necks hear ya!! SIEG HEIL GRAND WIZARD

[aardvark99]

One Nation, under God, with Liberty and Justice for all.

Apparently not.

I can''t imagine losing 26 years of my life because the system is "broken".

This is not the president''s fault. Our judicial system lacks the necessary imagination to find a way to address these situations and maintain "necessary" attorney-client privileges. Even with respect to the 5th Amendment''s self incrimination clause, it seems hard to believe that the lawyers couldn''t find a way to propose this man''s innocence.

[jessiejenns]

I CAN NOT & I mean CAN NOT understand why this man had to sit in that place even though there was a confession. To hell with the attorney-client privilege. That kind of confession should not apply. If I am seeing a phsyciatrist & I confess to a murder they have a right & responsibility to go to the authorities. That man who confessed should have had a day in court. I dont give a rats *** if his court date would have been held in a hospital room via court room satellite on his last living day on earth. The law needs to be changed in that area of so called lawyer-client privilege. That poor man had to spend 26 years of his life in a hell hole all the while the real criminal was out living life free & God only knows what other crimes the jerk commited!

[haoli25]

I hope both of those attorneys suffer long, agonizing deaths for what they have done to this man.

[jessiejenns]

UHHHHHHHHH Drangonking---- I dont understand what it is you are trying to say & Im almost positive that Im NOT the only one!

[jessiejenns]

Does anyone on here know how long these lawyers had the confession?

[downtowner97]

One nation, under God, with liberty adjusted for all.

[kabloona1]

Anyone who believes we are innocent untill proven guilty has never been through the system.Its a broken system at best. It is self serving and there will be casualties along the way, innocent people often go to jail or prison. Accepting a public defender ( or public offender as they are called by victoms of their ineptitude) is like asking the court to please send you to prison. This case will soon be forgotten...unlike the 26 years of life taken from this man. But, if we were to really care...really be concerned about injustice in this nation, really be commited to being innocent untill proven guilty, really want the truth the whole truth so help us God, then we would make sure there was change in the process allowing justice for all, not just for those who can afford it.Sorry for this mans misfortune and for all misfortune yet to come.

[michellem99-2009]

I was a child and we as a class faced the flag.
We all dutiful placed our right paw over our heart.
As children and a class this was daily.
Why we said it was citizenship in verse
Was it to teach us that we are better
Than other nations.
What did those words mean
I had no idea.
I sure do now.
I grew up believing those words,
As I sit here I want say I am appalled.
I truly am.
I know the pledge by heart
It is painfut recite
Why because America
Has Chahged for the worse.
I try to see her goodness.
As a adult I face the with tears
I ask what happened
I really don''t know
I am a legally blind lady
And do wonder her fate
What happened to
We the people,by the people
And for the people.
The America of the
constution
A citizen I am
Peace of chirt America
written by Barbara Ann

[michellem99-2009]

The line should read, As an adult I face the flag with tears.

[fabrat1]

MCVet I understand that. Ok I''m not trying to say I''m better than anyone and yeah I believe that it''s tough but not having been there I can''t understand. My understanding is limited because I''m not an attorney thus I have never been put into that kind of position. Believe me if my Daughter decides to be an attorney she will be with no doubt. She is one of the smartest kids I know and she''s determined. The National Honor Roll Socity has already recommnded her to some of the best colleges and with her grades she''ll have no problems. I still say,how did they cope with what they knew but couldn''t tell.

[voidmaster-2009]

Had these attorneys come forward and told what they knew, it is certain that their client would not have been convicted of the crime. The attorneys would have been guilty of violating attorney-client privilege and the information they offered would not have been admissible in court. Then, it is likely that this man would have NEVER been freed!

The system sucks. I hope, once the case is resolved and he is fully acquitted, he is able to sew Illinois for hundreds of millions.

[michellem99-2009]

Dear Mum,
Ye raised her
To know right from Wrong
Ye raised her to do the right thing
And now she will learn a skill
Ye can only hope ye did yer best
Will yer girl step to thr plate
And go to bat and not stike out
To right the wrongs
Remember who she is and the gifts
Her loving parents- ye gave her
Her name and the values
As she meets the world
know she can make a difference
in a cold,greedy world.
As you and her talk about the future
As a family
Let her know ye trully love her
Life is too short, my own mother
used to tell me.
Ye know it is.
Study she will do.
Tell her there is good.
The lesson I learnt as a child
I am no better than the next person
A good lesson
Love from a hillbilly

fabrat1 I wrote this to ye.Forgive my poor command of english..I am legally blind..if ye want to copy the Dear Mum letter for yer girl, my best to her.

[fabrat1]

MichelleM99 thanks that''s great, I''ll share that with my daughter.

[mnsheppard]

the sure should be some caps on the whole attorney-client privilege law. were it the average joe blow, it would be withholding evidence or perjury. I can understand certain things being privileged, but for it to send an innocent person to prison, I say the system is messed up!

[mnsheppard]

the sure should be some caps on the whole attorney-client privilege law. were it the average joe blow, it would be withholding evidence or perjury. I can understand certain things being privileged, but for it to send an innocent person to prison, I say the system is messed up!

[mnsheppard]

the sure should be some caps on the whole attorney-client privilege law. were it the average joe blow, it would be withholding evidence or perjury. I can understand certain things being privileged, but for it to send an innocent person to prison, I say the system is messed up!

[michellem99-2009]

let me know dear what yer girl thinks and I hope parents copy that down and there is talk about Dear Mum.Families need to talk and listen. In my day we did..
Vince said that man at the centre of this story need to sue and win/get millions..

[fabrat1]

MichelleM99 I''m sure she''ll like it. She''s at a local university taking a seminar for her sat''s. My daughter and I have an amazing relationship. I don''t just listen to my kids but I hear them. You can listen all day but it''s really hearing them that matters. Several times a week we turn the tv off and just talk, about whatever is going on at the moment or maybe an issue at school. This is just something she had stated because she cares about others and their feelings and she just wondered how she would ever handle something like this if she was faced with it in the future.

[mo005]

Hope you get this over soon , so you can live your life now. I agree with mnsheppard, they need to change that law to help the people that are convicted with out positive proof. Then if they are convicted positivly, then make it a swift and painful punishment. Make prison suck so bad they won''t want to come back.

[khanghi-2009]

Dragon King

Maybe you should stick to playing dungeons and dragons and leave the adult conversations to the grownups. Or, find a poetry(?) site where your talents would be appreciated.