A Case of police corruption & judicial cover-up
Matt Mason an innocent prisoner - after 30 years still seeking justice
Remember the 1980's in Mansfield, Ohio? The corruption, and murders the police committed? My story - It Could Happen to You!
CASE UPDATE
On March 2, 2020 Matt filed a Motion in the trial court in Ashland County, seeking "Touch DNA" testing on any physical evidence, including the victim's clothing, in existence. It has previously been established that the clothing and other evidence remains in storage at the Sheriff's Department. Matt also filed a Motion for Resentencing, because when the Court imposed sentence, the Trial Judge, Robert Henderson, erroneously sentenced him to "the rest of your natural life", which is not, in fact, a lawful sentence in Ohio for the crime of aggravated murder in 1985 or 1990. This is important because without having imposed the proper sentence, the courts have repeatedly held that such a sentence is void, and the prisoner is entitled to a brand new sentencing proceeding. In fact, Matt has won resentencings for several other prisoners with similar errors in their sentences, including Edward A. Smith, Jr. and Shawn Dowdy, both out of Cuyahoga County, Ohio. (These decisions can be found on Westlaw or LEXIS).
This would benefit Matt because he was not provided the right to speak before sentencing (known as "allocution", an absolute right), and would further provide the opportunity to argue the new evidence on the record, with the support of the family of the victim in the courtroom as well as obtaining media coverage and scrutiny.
The Prosecutor (a new one since trial), filed a pleading on March 16 2020, opposing the resentencing, claiming erroneously that the sentence was proper, despite the clear errors and controlling case law in Matt's motion, which the prosecutor ignored, and cited no authorities in opposition. Matt responded with a pleading pointing out the prosecutor's errors, on March 23 2020.
On April 1, 2020, the trial court, Judge Ronald P. Forsthoefel, issued an order denying both of Matt's motions, stating that Matt had already had an appeal and that a prior motion for regular DNA testing, before the advent of "Touch DNA" had been denied. Seven days later, the prosecutor filed a brief opposing the DNA testing, after the trial court had already denied it.
Matt is taking these issues forward on appeal.
Matt Mason