Unlawful Imprisonment of Ryricka Nikita Custis Raises Serious Constitutional Concerns in Virginia

— Ryricka Nikita Custis, a Virginia man, remains unlawfully imprisoned after being sentenced to 40 years for crimes he did not commit, despite overwhelming evidence that should have cleared him.

In 2007, Mr. Custis was convicted of robbery, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. However, Mr. Custis never possessed the firearm, never used the firearm, and never robbed anyone. In fact, Mr. Custis was the one shot by one of his co-defendants during the incident in question. Despite these facts, he received a harsh 40-year sentence.

Critically:

The victim was unable to positively identify Ryricka Nikita Custis in court as the person who committed the robbery.

Co-defendants made clear statements at the time of arrest that Mr. Custis was not the person who committed the crime.

These co-defendants were never brought into court to testify, depriving the defense and the jury of critical exculpatory evidence.

There are serious concerns that exculpatory evidence was withheld in violation of Virginia Supreme Court Rule 3A:13(b), which requires full disclosure of evidence to the defense.

Mr. Custis’s sentencing was grossly disproportionate, further violating principles of due process under Article I, Section 8 of the Virginia Constitution.

Today, Mr. Custis has been incarcerated for nearly 18 years for a crime he did not commit — a staggering injustice that calls into question the integrity of the proceedings and the fairness of the system that convicted him.

"This is a clear violation of constitutional protections and basic fairness," said Holly Custis Ryricka Custis wife. "When a man can be sentenced to four decades based on faulty identification, suppressed evidence, and testimony that would have cleared him, it shows a complete failure of justice."

Advocates are calling for immediate review and corrective action, including a full investigation into the wrongful conviction of Ryricka Nikita Custis.

For further information, interviews, or supporting documentation, please contact Holly Custis at 304-237-1252 or email at hollycustis@gmail.com

By signing this petition, you can help us bring the actions of the judge into question and pave the way for a legal reconsideration of Ryricka's case. Your voice can make a difference. Please, sign this petition. Let's give Ryricka the chance of a resentencing hearing he deserves. Let's seek justice where it has been denied. Together, we can make a change. Please, sign the petition.