Onrae Williams sentenced to life based on questionable testimony regarding a questionable drug trans
A police informant allegedly purchased two pebbles of crack weighing 0.3 grams from Williams when he was 22. Williams was not arrested for selling to the confidential informant until almost half a year later.
Williams reports that after the birth of his daughter and his release from prison for a prior offense, he began to turn his life around. He had been reporting regularly to his parole officer during the intervening months, but police never approached him about a drug buy.
Williams was offered a plea deal but maintained his innocence and chose to go to trial. The informant, who had spent half his life in prison, later testified that he had purchased the crack pebbles from Williams.
Williams was convicted of distribution of crack cocaine within a half-mile of a school and was sentenced to life without parole.
While in prison, Williams has earned his GED and is writing a book. He spends his spare time studying the law, reading, and playing chess.
Williams regrets that when his mother died, and he was unable to attend the funeral. He has earned his GED in prison, is writing a book, and spends his time studying the law, reading, and playing chess. He told the ACLU that if he were allowed out of prison, his priority would be to go to college, adding, “Since I’ve been locked up…I’ll do whatever I can do to increase my development and my knowledge,” but adds that “I just pushed my education as far as I could push it” in prison.
He speaks regularly with his daughter and says, “What matters the most to me is to…be a father to my daughter and build a relationship with her. That’s what helped change me and helped me understand that I don’t need drugs in my life. I’ve grown up and matured from an adolescent into a man.”
Read full story at ACLU Special Report. A Living Death: Life Without Parole for Nonviolent Offenses.
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As voters, citizens, taxpayers and bystanders, we as a society have inhumanely punished thousands of nonviolent people. Currently Washington DC and 30 states have compensation statutes for wrongfully convicted inmates. Congress’ recommended amount is $63,000 for each year served. On the other hand, overly sentenced victims who in many cases have suffered equally or worse typically receive $20 and a bus ticket if they are fortunate enough to ever be released.
Select the link below to donate directly to Williams to help him with legal and other expenses. Most of these inhumanely sentenced inmates don't remember the last time they were able to buy personal items or snacks from the commissary. No donation is too small. JPAY is used for state inmates and Western Union for federal.
No Harsh Justice inmate has ever been convicted of a violent crime.
Donate to Williams' Legal Fund (Select South Carolina, Inmate ID=00284437)
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