Sanders notes that at the time of his arrest he was employed full-time, had no criminal record, and was an honorably discharged US Navy Veteran. He requests the statutory maximum reimbursement of $25,000 for his 26-year imprisonment. Sanders points to awards for additional damages in prior Innocent Convict Compensation claims and requests an additional $5,729,965 for loss of liberty, property, and earning potential.
DA’s Response and Argument
Based on a review of the facts surrounding the crime, the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office does not oppose Sanders' claim for $25,000, which is the statutory maximum amount, under Wis. Stat. § 775.05(4). The DA's Office takes no position on Mr. Sanders' claims for additional damages and believes the Claims Board is better suited to make a determination regarding those damages. Discussion and Conclusion
Under the standards of Wis. Stat.§ 775.05(3), the Claims Board must determine whether or not the evidence is clear and convincing that the petitioner was innocent of the crime for which he was imprisoned. Although Sanders participated in the beating prior to the homicide, a court found there was no factual basis to conclude Sanders was a party to the crime of first-degree intentional homicide. The beating occurred in locations other than the homicide and Sanders has consistently maintained that he was not involved in the homicide. The criminal complaint was based on Peavy's statement that Sanders accompanied Boddie to the abandoned house where the victim was shot; however, in 1996, Boddie signed a statement that Sanders was not at the location of the homicide and was not involved in the homicide.
In addition, twice a court has concluded that Sanders did not knowingly and intelligently enter the "no contest" plea for which he was convicted. Although the Board has ruled historically that the entry of a "no contest" plea by a defendant constitutes substantial evidence that the defendant's own actions contributed to the conviction, we do not in this ruling seek to change this past practice, absent unique and compelling circumstances. However, the specific facts of this case demonstrate that Sanders' entry of a no contest plea, both at the time of his initial conviction and again in 1996, was a legal error and therefore the Board cannot find that Sanders contributed to his own conviction. The unique facts supporting such a finding include: the fact that Sanders maintained his innocence and sought a withdrawal of his plea following his incarceration; the fact that he met the high legal standard to merit withdrawal in such circumstances; and the fact that the court concluded both that the State failed to show there was a factual basis for Sanders' 1996 no contest plea, and that the facts surrounding his involvement in the incident did not satisfy any element of party to a crime liability.
Based on the above, the Board concludes and finds that the evidence is clear and convincing that Sanders was innocent of the charge discussed herein. Accordingly, the Board further concludes that compensation in the amount of $25,000 shall be awarded from the Claims Board appropriation§ 20.505(4)(d), Stats. Vote: 5-0 Dated at Madison, Wisconsin this 12th day of February, 2020.
COREY FINKELMEYER
Chair, Representative of the Attorney General
AMY KASPER
Secretary, Representative of the Secretary of Administration
LUTHER OLSEN
Senate Finance Committee
TERRY KATSMA
Assembly Finance Committee
RYAN NILSESTUEN
Representative of the Governor
_____________
State of Wisconsin
Wisconsin Ethics Commission
February 25, 2020
The Honorable, the Senate:
Pursuant to Wis. Stats. §13.685 (7), we are providing the enclosed information. Please visit the Wisconsin Ethics Commission’s Eye on Lobbying website, https://lobbying.wi.gov, for more detailed information about lobbyists, lobbying principals (organizations), and state agency liaisons. Hubbard, Gregory Fix the System Wisconsin - Action Inc.
Kammer, Peter Skyward Inc.
McCoshen, William AbbVie, Inc.
Rude, Nels Skyward Inc.
Steele, John Johnson Controls Inc
Wagner, Andrew Milwaukee Police Association
White, Katie Fix the System Wisconsin - Action Inc.
Wilson, A.J. Fix the System Wisconsin - Action Inc.
Zelenkova, Ramie Fix the System Wisconsin - Action Inc.
Sincerely,
DANIEL A. CARLTON, JR.
Administrator
