When I was 17, I was arrested and charged with home invasion, armed robbery. In 1999 I was tried and convicted of those charges. At the preliminary the individuals who were victimized stated that they knew me well enough to know that it was not me under the mask. At the time of the robbery I was at home. My parents were there and could account for the time I was home and when I left the house. My mother was on the phone with a friend of hers who can also corroborate that I was at the house when the robbery was taking place. There are witnesses who I spoke with on the phone that can also present a timeline that will place me at my home. 

Steven P.Hanna was the court appointed counsel assigned to my case. Mr. Hanna failed to meet with me on more than one occasion. He would not do anything I asked him to do. When I asked him to meet with some of the people who can testify to my whereabouts, he said he did not know the area. He wanted me to ask my mother to meet with them. Some of these people would have been underage at the time. The same house was robbed again, by individuals who fit the same description,  while I was incarcerated and he failed to get that information introduced. The description of the clothes given included boots. A boot print was recovered from the scene. The boots that were removed from my house did not match the size of the print. He did not present that information at trial. Mr. Hanna did not inform the jury that the victims not only failed to identify me as one of the men who robbed them, they stated that they knew me from the neighborhood and they knew who robbed them and it was not me. They said I was being falsely accused. 

After deliberation, the jury came back with a question. They asked “what if we don’t think he did it, but we think he knew about it afterwards?” The judge answered the question by saying “then you have to find him guilty.” Not knowing much about the law I looked to my attorney who waved me down like he had it all covered. The jury came back with a guilty verdict. 

Two months later I was sentenced. That was the last time I saw or  heard anything from Mr. Hanna. He never filed an appeal on my behalf or provided me with my transcripts so I may file as a pro-se litigant.  I was finally able to make contact with Hanna through a third party after serving 22 years.  He contacted the courts so that I may obtain my transcripts. 

This is just a brief overview of this case. I would appreciate any assistance to seek justice that I have been denied for 23 years. Thank you for your time.

Leetrell Tyeshawn Myles #1108847(Greensville Correctional Center)

Email Contact: anaphabenjamin@gmail.com