Imagine......

Being placed in handcuffs and escorted outside of the courtroom.

To a waiting holding cell after, being sentenced to life in prison for a crime that you DID NOT commit.

Sounds like a really bad dream, or a nightmare?

For Darrell Myricks & Roy Chambers, the two half brothers, that nightmare has been their reality for the past twelve years.

Did you know that while Black people represent just 13.6% of the U.S. population, they account for 53% of wrongful convictions?

In 2012, Darrell & Roy were wrongfully convicted and sentenced to life in prison. But not for murder. Or, for the killing of anyone whatsoever. Their crime? Armed robbery.

Despite the fact that this was Darrell and Roys first time ever, being convicted for such a crime. Had no prior history of a violent record in the state of Georgia. And were both college kids who worked and came from a good family background. Not a single shot was fired nor a act of phsyical violence inflicted upon anyone, and yet they were sentenced to life in prison.

What is more interesting, is that there is evidence that points to both Darrell and Roys innocence. 1). At trial, the testimony of the alleged victim Rheanna Jenkins, was inconsistent with the statement that Jenkins had actually written and given to police officers the day of the alleged incident indicating that Jenkins had fabricated the entire robbery. 2). The items that Jenkins claimed Darrell and Roy allegedly robbed her for, which was a cellphone, a pack of cigarettes, and an estimated amount of money that ranged between $200-$210 was never recovered. Nor were these items ever found in possession of either Darrell or Roy at the time of their arrest. 3) There were no witnesses who testified to seeing Darrell or Roy rob the victicm other then Jenkins herself. 4). A gun was subsequently found inside the attic of an apartment that did not belong to either Darrell or Roy and was later identified by Jenkins as the gun used in the robbery after the gun was shown to Jenkins by the police. 5). However, there was a witness willing and ready to testify that the gun found in the attic was his and that the gun did not belong to either of the two brothers and that he was the person who actually put the gun in the attic inside the apartment and not Darrell or Roy. 6). However, before trial this witness was threatened and intimidate by the prosecutor that if he did come forward and testify to possessing the gun he would be charged with possession of a firearm. 7). Subsequently, the witness declined to testify because of this misconduct by the State.

Under the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) § 16-8-40, an armed robbery is a "robbery committed with an offensive weapon, any replica of an offensive weapon, or a device having the appearance of any such weapon" with the goal to take another's property.

Darrell or Roy, were never charged with the gun that was found and later identified by Jenkins, or any other offensive weapons or replica of an offensive weapon as defined by Georgia law in this case nor was there any evidence that they ever possessed a gun whatsoever and they were still convicted of armed robbery.

Under Georgia's sentencing guidelines, armed robbery is considered a violent felony offense and comes with a minimum of 10 years and a max of 20 years. The sentence for a second conviction of armed robbery comes with life. Furthermore, if you have three prior felony convictions from anywhere in the U.S. you will also have to serve the maximum sentence without the possibility of parole.

Even if Darrell and Roy were not innocent of this crime, which they both are, it still does not constitute for them being sentenced to life in prison. The law is clear and states that upon a second conviction of armed robbery or three or more prior felony convictions can a person be sentenced to such a harsh sentence. Consequently, this was Darrell and Roys first conviction for armed robbery. They should NOT have been sentenced to life not for their first offense. Its clear that the system failed them and that they were both vitcims of the vanishing trial practice. Which is when a person elects to go to trial instead of taking a plea agreement they receive what's called a trial penalty, the harshest sentence that can be imposed by a trial judge for exercising their right to a trial.

Darrell and Roy's sentence is NOT justice.

Help us make the Douglas County Justice system reverse Darrell and Roy's life sentence conviction and give them the minimum sentence that armed robbery requires which is ten years. Support Darrell and Roy by reposting and resharing their story on all social media platforms. You can also write and send your letters to Dalia Racine, the District Attorney in Douglas County Georgia, Crystal Moon, the Director of the Clemency Division for the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock and U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff. Tell them to pardon or parole both Darrell and Roy as well as open an investigation into these two young men's case. There are plenty of cases in Douglas County and the state of Georgia where the crime of armed robbery has been committed, where the facts involved were worst then Darrell and Roys case and the convicted did not receive a life sentence. Let's help get Darrell and Roy free and their case the justice it deserves.

Since their incarceration both Darrell and Roy have thrived and excelled while in prison.

Darrell recently just published a nonfiction book titled, Letters to the Unchained: A true story of the streets, gangs, prison and mass incarceration. In his first book, Darrell explores the system of mass incarceration by peeling back the layers of his own adolescent years spent traveling between Gary, Indiana and Michigan City, Indiana as an example of the factors that influence decision making. Darrell's book is a must read for the youth of our community particularly for those who find themselves at a crossroads in life when faced with these unsettling circumstances . His book is available on Amazon.

Darrell has also earned a certification in CDL training as well as a certification in carpentry and in OSHA. Darrell has also graduated from and obtain a certification in the Motivation for Change program as well as the Thinking for a Change program.

Roy has graduated from Georgia's WireGlass Technical College were he was completed courses and obtain his certifications in Introduction to Diesel, Diesel Electric and Electronic Systems, Truck Brake Systems, Truck Drive Trains, Preventative Maintenance, as well as Technology Tools and Safety.

For more information on Darrell and Roys case you can follow their advocate page on instrgram @free.usnow

And you can also donate to their Go Fund Me Account @HELP DARRELL & ROY FIGHT A WRONGFUL CONVICTION.