We, the undersigned citizens of the State of California and concerned members of the public. respectfully petition Governor Gavin Newsom to initiate an immediate investigation into the wrongful conviction of Timothy P. Thompson, who has been incarcerated since 2008 for a crime he did not commit. His conviction is plagued by constitutional violations, suppressed evidence, false statements, and misconduct that undermine the very foundation of California's justice system.

WHO IS TIMOTHY P. THOMPSON?

Timothy was only sixteen years old at the time of the alleged incident in 2006. Despite being a juvenile, he was tried as an adult in 2008 in Yolo County, California, and given a sentence that disregarded his age, physical condition, mental state, and constitutional protections.  Today, he suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, which developed while incarcerated. He has endured conditions that no human being - rightfully convicted or not - should face.

WHERE THIS CASE OCCURRED

The alleged incident and prosecution arose in Yolo County, California. The case was handled by the Yolo County District Attorney's Office under District Attorney Jeff Reisig. whose office is located at 301 Second Street, Woodland, California 95695. Decisions made in this jurisdiction - including the withholding of key evidence, the introduction of uncharged acts, and the use of inapplicable statutes - have led to a profound miscarriage of justice that now requires state - level intervention.

THE FACTS THAT DEMAND ACTION

SUPPRESSED 911 RECORDING IDENTIFYING A DIFFERENT SUSPECT

A 911 call made immediately after the incident was never presented to the jury or the court, contained exculpatory statements identifying the alleged assailant as a Hispanic adult male, not Timothy, a 16-year-old African American youth. In the State's own written justification for withholding this recording, the District Attorney admitted that the tape was emotional, recorded in Spanish, and" would have likely been difficult for the jury to follow along," concluding that Timothy suffered no prejudice from the absence of the 911 tape recording.

This statement is deeply troubling. It acknowledges the tape's existence and emotional impact while confirming that prosecutors made a unilateral decision to deprive the jury of firsthand evidence that pointed to another suspect. The caller described a Hispanic male dragging and hitting the alleged victim with his fist - consistent with Timothy's account that the alleged victim encountered another male and ran to hide between bushes. The suppression of this recording is not a harmless oversight; it is a profound violation of due process, Brady obligations, and Timothy's constitutional right to present a defense.  

FALSE CLAIM OF NO PRIOR CONTACT AND WITNESS MANIPULATION

The alleged victim, who was 23 years old at the time, claimed she had never met or seen Timothy before the day of the alleged incident. This statement is contradicted by Timothy's recorded interview - conducted without an attorney or his parents present - during which he stated he had met her approximately two and a half weeks earlier. Further evidence confirmed this prior contact: the alleged victim's work phone number was found in Timothy's cell phone records.

Additionally, law enforcement engaged in troubling conduct involving a key juvenile witness. Timothy's childhood friend, then 16 years old, was shown a six-pack photo lineup that included the alleged victim. He selected her photograph and stated he was 98% sure" she was the woman he had previously seen with Timothy. When detectives returned days later, they attempted to redirect his identification by pointing to other female photographs and asking if he was" sure it wasn't this one instead." The same detectives then informed this minor witness that he did not need to appear in court. This behavior suggests intentional interference with a defense witness and raises serious questions about the integrity of the investigation and the potential suppression of exculpatory testimony.

ILLEGAL SENTENCING UNDER INAPPLICABLE STATUTES

Timothy was convicted under California Penal Code provisions that do not align with the facts of his case. The alleged victim was 23 years old at the time of the incident. However, Timothy was charged and sentenced under a provision of law that required factual elements that were not present in this case. As a result, the conviction and sentence imposed do not conform to the statutory requirements or the actual record.

CDCR ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEFECT

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has issued written communication acknowledging discrepancies in Timothy's sentence and confirming that it is constitutionally defective and requires judicial correction. This means the State itself recognizes that Timothy is serving a punishment that the law does not authorize.

WE ARE ASKING THE GOVERNOR TO:

1. Order an independent and comprehensive review of Timothy's conviction, sentencing, and the handling of all evidence, including the suppressed 911 recording and witness statements.

    2. Hold accountable any individuals or offices that suppressed evidence, interfered with witnesses, or introduced uncharged acts without notice.

    3. Ensure that Timothy receives the constitutional protection he was denied, including corrective relief for any illegal or unauthorized portion of his sentence.

   4. Take corrective action to prevent future miscarriages of justice against juveniles and vulnerable defendants in Yolo County and throughout California.

Submitted in support of the Petition for the Investigation and Correction of the Wrongful Conviction and illegal Sentencing of Timothy P. Thompson.