Former Indianapolis Colts player, Raymond Fisher, has joined the DefundDOC.net community podcast to broadcast the unjust prolonged incarceration of Jason Charles. In 2004 Jason was a normal working class citizen living in Ohio when his world was turned upside down. A relative high on drugs pulled a gun out on Jason and began firing. Without thought Jason reacted by grabbing a firearm and self-defending himself. Thankfully Jasons bullets struck his attacker and stopped the threat to his life. It was a clear case of self-defense. For those with wealth or power it would of quickly been ruled a self-defense matter and dismissed as such. If you are Black or poor however that is not the case. Which was the unfair inequity that Jason had to contend with. Instead of being treated like a victim Jason was criminalized and viewed as any other criminal defendant. Arrested. Stripped naked, visually raped, and booked into the County Jail. Then prosecuted as harshly as possible. Jason spent an alarming five years in the County Jail as he awaited his day of Trial. His Court appointed attorney, Michael J. Duff, did not adequately defend Jason. Instead Mr. Duff steadily pressured Jason into taking a plea bargain. A first year law student could of proven a self-defense case. Yet Jasons Public Defender only focus was to churn cases. The more cases Public Defenders churn the more funds they receive. As we have seen time and time again innocent people plead guilty. Coercion by attorneys, the duress of jail conditions, and the genuine threat of a long prison sentence, all culminates in innocent people pleading guilty. Despite Jason's complete innocence he buckled under the pressure. Taking a plea under duress. Believing he would be incarcerated a total of eighteen years. Yet when his parole board hearing came up the Parole Board Members used his past infractions as a pretext to keep him imprisoned. A prior prison altercation that Jason deeply regretted stemming from the harsh realities of institutional life was used unfairly to deny his parole. Disregarding the extraordinary claims of self-defense. Dismissing Jasons heartrending cries to reunite with his innocent children. And rejecting Jasons Supporter's voices asking for mercy. Supporters like retired professional football player Raymond Fisher. Outrageously decreeing Jason spend another ten years incarcerated. Such a ruling is tantamount to a slow death sentence. Listening to this remarkable tale of injustice will open your mind to the incalculable harm our current mass incarceration system inflicts on our people.
If you would like to examine the vast trove of legal documents that support Jason's claims of innocence by self-defense DefundDOC.net has collected them. Click here.
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