Help teenager sentenced to 502 years in prison

My son Eric was wrongfully convicted at the age of 17 in Oklahoma and sentenced to 502 years in prison. This entire case was based on one individuals word against Eric. No other evidence. Once the jury heard the charge it sealed my son's fate. He underwent an appeal once again represented by the over worked and underpaid public defenders office. The attorney had little communication with Eric, and Eric's voice was ignored. Eric's sentence was affirmed, however his sentence was modified to a new total of 252 years. A slap in the face and a major disappointment. This reduction did absolutely nothing. Eric will die in prison as he is required by Oklahoma law to serve 85% of his sentence.

We need your help and support to hire a competent attorney to review Eric's case. My son underwent this entire ordeal with overworked public defenders and the stigma of a sex crime working against him. Eric was a young man never before in trouble not even for a speeding ticket. He had these allegations thrown at him by dedicated investigators who thanks to the stigma didn't even give him a chance. He requested his mom be present for the interview they refused to allow it. He was texting his mom who just got an attorney to call eric when the detectives told eric to stop texting. The attorney arrived shortly later at the station and sat with eric. Eric denied all allegations and was terrified of what could come next. We couldn't afford the attorney who helped end this interrogation and my son unfortunately had to trust in people who had no interest in him.

These funds being raised will only be used to secure an attorney to review Eric's case and with some luck bring my son home to me. At the very least the sentence of 252years is unconstitutional per US v. Graham 2010. This case established by the Supreme court that a juvenile (at the time of offense) non homicide offender must be given some meaningful opportunity to obtain release. Currently my son is sentenced to death in prison as he has no hope of ever getting out. If all else fails this attorney will ensure Eric gets a fair sentence.

Since being incarcerated Eric has tried to maintain a positive outlook on his future. Although at times all seems hopeless. In 2016 Eric began attending Rose State Community College through the prisons distance education program with the goal of attaining his associates degree someday. Eric successfully completed the Anger Management program at the facility and is pending enrollment for the Thinking for a change course. Due to prison overcrowding, the current lack of program coordinators, and because eric has de facto life he is at the back of the list for this program (His only assessed need). In the summer of 2018, Eric obtained a job at the Career Tech Center at his facility and has been learning useful skills and trades for his eventual release. Many of Eric's days are spent on the recreation yard walking the track hoping that one day he can travel beyond the fence and be with his family again.

My son, Eric, was/is a great kid. He was very helpful and eager to learn thru out his years of growing up. If he had difficulties in his young life, he pulled thru with a lot of determination, never gave up. Eric was a wild child from the age of 2-5, Eric enjoyed climbing trees, climbing on top of the roof (scaring me half to death), Eric was a very adventurous dare devil. Eric always helped family and friends first, before taking care of his needs. Back on April 10th 2011 his grandmother had a stroke, we had to uproot and head back to WA state, from OK to help take care of my mother, his grandmother, til she was strong and healthy enough to make the drive back to OK with my family and I. Eric dropped out of school, got his GED, went to ATI Career Training Center to get his Medical Assistant Certificate at the age of 17. Eric was dedicated to being a successful young man. He wanted nothing more to live his life and help support his family. Eric's dreams, hopes, and ambitions have been devastated. Even if he one day proves his innocence his life will always have this scar and some will always discriminate against him. I need my son home. I cannot stand to see the pain in his eyes everytime I visit him. He tries so hard to hide this pain from me but I raised him and their is little he can ever truly hide from me. I know my son is innocent. I've never doubted him. Please help us get the help we need. And thank you so much for taking the time to read our story.