Letter to Pat Lykos 29

It's time for another letter to Lykos; I'd appreciate it very much if you'd print this out, or write your own, or download one of the flyers to send in this month. I highly reccomend checking out the website mentioned in it, as that case is currently being looked at by the Innocence Project of Texas.

 

The Honorable Pat Lykos
1201 Franklin St
Houston, TX
77002

Ma'am,

I'm writing to you about the case of Carlos Coy, #908426.

As you may be aware, one of the 'San Antonio Four' will be released on parole soon. Convicted in 1997 of brutally molesting two young girls, Anna Vasquez has been fighting for exoneration for years. Although one of the victims has admitted that the charges were fabricated, these women remain incarcerated.

While not initially eligible for parole because she refused to talk about the crime she was convicted of in group therapy sessions, Vasquez submitted a polygraph test to the parole board which seems to have worked in her favor; her mother shared this news a few days ago at the preview of a documentary about the case.

With the Innocence Project of Texas involved, I have great faith that these four women will eventually receive justice. A witness's recantation can be a powerful thing, but not always enough to set the wrongfully convicted free.

A website that details the case, fourliveslost.com, describes the difficulties the wrongfully accused face better than I could:

In false child abuse allegations, there is never physical or corroborating evidence – only the testimony of the alleged victim(s). Although trial theory states the prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the reality of these cases is the defendant is presumed guilty, and must prove their innocence. What they must prove is that no crime occurred. This is a very difficult, if not impossible objective; exactly how does one produce evidence to refute an imaginary crime?

Disproving a non-event is a logical impossibility, but also the blunt reality of the defendant’s predicament. The only option is to show through cumulative logic and circumstance that the alleged crimes are fabrications. Often this type of evidence is ruled irrelevant or inadmissible by the trial judge and never presented to the jury, eliminating any effective defense.

It's too late to prevent what I believe was a wrongful conviction in Coy's case but I will continue to publicize it, and work to overturn it. There are similarities to the case of the San Antonio Four; unrecorded initial interviews, a judge who seems exceptionally sympathetic to the prosecution, a spurned lover, and experts spouting unprovable theories and debunked science. Plea deals were offered but refused because the defendants could not believe they could lose a case brought with no evidence.

I hope you see, as I do, that these cases are neither uncommon nor unlikely. Please, help us investigate what happened to Carlos Coy, and bring justice to one more Texan.

Me, my address, blah blah blah.