The Joys of July
Many of us enter the summer season on a high note. We prepare for vacations, recognize our graduates, and plan for months of adventures and outdoor fun. Here at the Project, we would like to add to your list of things to celebrate by sharing stories about several clients released in the summertime in past years. Join us to celebrate these freedom anniversaries!
On July 11, 2026, Project client, Lester Eiland, and his codefendant Edward Mitchell celebrate their one-year freedom anniversary. Last summer, the two men were released after spending 25 years incarcerated for a Harrisburg, PA crime that they did not commit. Join us in sending them well wishes as they continue to persevere through the challenges of returning home after more than two decades of wrongful incarceration.
July 11th also marks the third freedom anniversary for our Paralegal, Yahya Moore. Yahya spent more than 27 years incarcerated for a crime that he did not commit. Our team is grateful to have him with us - we benefit daily from his legal knowledge and willingness to share experience as an impacted person.
It doesn’t stop there – July has notoriously been a time of triumph for our clients.
On July 14, 2010, the Project welcomed home our first client, Kenneth Granger. Kenneth made the difficult decision to accept a no-contest plea in exchange for his immediate release from prison. The prosecution offered the deal after finally disclosing evidence of Kenneth’s innocence that had been suppressed for nearly three decades. Kenneth spent 28 years incarcerated for a crime that he did not commit.
Nine years ago, we celebrated the homecomings of Lorenzo Johnson and Marshall Hale. Lorenzo and Marshall were released two days apart from each other in July 2017. Lorenzo spent a total of 22 years wrongly incarcerated. His conviction was originally vacated in 2011 but was later reinstated by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2012. Lorenzo voluntarily returned to prison until his release on July 11, 2017, after taking a no-contest plea while maintaining his innocence. Two days later, Marshall was exonerated after discovering that prosecutors hid the results of crime scene tests that proved he could not have committed the crime. Marshall spent 33 years incarcerated for a crime that he did not commit.
Seven years ago, in July 2019, we welcomed home Chester Hollman III, now a Project Board member, and John Miller. You can watch some of Chester’s story in an episode of the Netflix series, The Innocence Files, and hear a recent interview with John from the WURD Radio series Exonerated: The Cost of Wrongful Conviction.
On July 18, 2024, our legal team began their mornings in court on two opposite sides of the state. James Kelly was exonerated in Allegheny County after spending 28 years incarcerated for a crime that he did not commit. James was convicted based on the ever-changing, contradictory testimony of the key witness. Jeffrey Dawkins appeared in court the same morning in Philadelphia. With the help of his devoted family, Jeff spearheaded in depth efforts to build awareness about his wrongful conviction and seek new evidence. After 19 years of resilience, on July 19, Jeff returned home to his loved ones.
We’d also like to acknowledge the innocent men who are a part of our reentry community who celebrate freedom anniversaries in July. Congratulations to David Bryant, Gerald Howell, and David Dickson who are all celebrating another year home.
Navigating life after a wrongful conviction is no small feat. Please continue to uplift our clients and amplify their stories as we remain on our quest to unlock the truth and free the innocent.