We filed a wrongful conviction suit against Springfield Police on behalf of our client Charles Wilhite
Thursday, January 30, 2014 On January 29, 2014, we filed Charles Wilhite’s civil rights lawsuit against two Springfield police officers and the City of Springfield, alleging that the officers caused his wrongful conviction by fabricating evidence and threatening witnesses. Mr. Wilhite was convicted of first-degree murder in December 2010 as the shooter in a 2008 murder. Two witnesses recanted and said that they had only identified Mr. Wilhite because of police pressure. After spending more than three years in prison for a crime he did not commit, Mr. Wilhite was found not guilty at a second trial in January 2013.
Our complaint alleges that Mr. Wilhite’s wrongful conviction resulted from the grossly improper identification procedures used by the two officers, Defendants Anthony Pioggia and Steven Tatro, and from the City of Springfield’s policies, customs, and practices. There was no physical evidence against Mr. Wilhite. Five witnesses, including two confidential informants, told police that the shooter was a light-skinned Hispanic man. The complaint alleges that Defendants Pioggia and Tatro failed to investigate these leads and instead built a case against Mr. Wilhite, who is African American.
Read about this case in the news:
WAMC Northeast Public Radio: Man Sues Police For Wrongful Murder Conviction
The Republican/masslive.com: Charles Wilhite sues Springfield police officers for civil rights violations, arguing he was wrongfully convicted of 2008 murder
ABC40/FOX6: Springfield Man Found Not Guilty of Murder Files Lawsuit