Justice For Gadsden 6
Justice For Gadsden 6
The Issue
Arrested as juveniles. Initially charged with over 30 counts. Transferred to adult court without transfer hearing or assistance from attorneys. Resulting in appx. 20 adult felonies on their record for non-violent property offenses. 0ver 170 years combined sentences. Over 30 years incarceration served on original convictions. Over 60 years served on sentences enhancements that used these priors, and responsible for two "recidivist" life without parole sentences.
On March 24, 1988, six (6) Black children, Fred Brown, Archie Hamlet, Roland Martin, Melvin Ray, Curtis Richardson, and Steve Stewart, all 16 years of age or younger, were arrested in Gadsden, Ala. during the early morning hours around 1:00 am. Initially, they were charged with breaking into a department store. After their arrest, they were take to the police department, where they were then questioned for over 4 hours. This interrogation was not recorded. In addition, none of their parents were notified and they were not afforded attorneys or any other form of legal representation. When the interrogation ended, they were charged with over 30 counts of burglary and theft.
On April 27th,1988, the prosecutor filed a motion to transfer all of the cases from juvenile to adult court for criminal prosecution. The judge in the case, Robert E. Lewis, granted the state's motion to transfer the same day that it was filed, transferring all six (6) of them to adult court. Judge Lewis granted the transfer motion without conducting any hearing; and without notifying the children, their attorneys, or their parents that the motion had been filed.The entire transfer process - no notice, no hearing, no one present but the judge and prosecutor, no legal representation - was illegal and not authorized by any provision of Alabama constitutional or statutory law.
In the most recent filing in this matter by G6 member Melvin Ray, Judge William B. Ogletree acknowledged that no transfer hearing was held and that no legal representation was present when the transfer motion was considered and granted. However, despite finding that the juveniles were not transfer to adult court in the manner prescribed by law, Judge Ogletree refused to perform his legal duty to declare these adult convictions void.
The entirety of the proceedings that emerged from Etowah County concerning these Black kids are brimming with injustice, abuse, and fraud. Judge William B. Ogletree is denying Justice to the GADSDEN 6 for contrived reasons, and we call on everyone to stand with us as we demand Justice for the GADSDEN 6.
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The Issue
Arrested as juveniles. Initially charged with over 30 counts. Transferred to adult court without transfer hearing or assistance from attorneys. Resulting in appx. 20 adult felonies on their record for non-violent property offenses. 0ver 170 years combined sentences. Over 30 years incarceration served on original convictions. Over 60 years served on sentences enhancements that used these priors, and responsible for two "recidivist" life without parole sentences.
On March 24, 1988, six (6) Black children, Fred Brown, Archie Hamlet, Roland Martin, Melvin Ray, Curtis Richardson, and Steve Stewart, all 16 years of age or younger, were arrested in Gadsden, Ala. during the early morning hours around 1:00 am. Initially, they were charged with breaking into a department store. After their arrest, they were take to the police department, where they were then questioned for over 4 hours. This interrogation was not recorded. In addition, none of their parents were notified and they were not afforded attorneys or any other form of legal representation. When the interrogation ended, they were charged with over 30 counts of burglary and theft.
On April 27th,1988, the prosecutor filed a motion to transfer all of the cases from juvenile to adult court for criminal prosecution. The judge in the case, Robert E. Lewis, granted the state's motion to transfer the same day that it was filed, transferring all six (6) of them to adult court. Judge Lewis granted the transfer motion without conducting any hearing; and without notifying the children, their attorneys, or their parents that the motion had been filed.The entire transfer process - no notice, no hearing, no one present but the judge and prosecutor, no legal representation - was illegal and not authorized by any provision of Alabama constitutional or statutory law.
In the most recent filing in this matter by G6 member Melvin Ray, Judge William B. Ogletree acknowledged that no transfer hearing was held and that no legal representation was present when the transfer motion was considered and granted. However, despite finding that the juveniles were not transfer to adult court in the manner prescribed by law, Judge Ogletree refused to perform his legal duty to declare these adult convictions void.
The entirety of the proceedings that emerged from Etowah County concerning these Black kids are brimming with injustice, abuse, and fraud. Judge William B. Ogletree is denying Justice to the GADSDEN 6 for contrived reasons, and we call on everyone to stand with us as we demand Justice for the GADSDEN 6.
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The Decision Makers
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Petition created on October 7, 2020