Three Strikes Project Secures Habeas Relief and Release for Client

Three Strikes Project students, faculty and staff were successful yesterday in securing release of another client, Carl Gray, from prison.  Mr. Gray is the clinic’s 16th victory on behalf of clinic clients serving life sentences under California’s Three Strikes law for non violent crimes.

Carl Gray’s three convictions were for burglary charges committed in pursuit of money to support his addiction to methamphetamines.  He was convicted of his third strike in 1999 for stealing vintage beer glasses from a storage facility. His prior two offenses in 1992 and 1993 were for the burglary of two homes–in one case no one was home and in the other the home was unoccupied.  He was extremely cooperative and remorseful for his actions an arresting officer later testified.

Prior to the onset of his addiction, Mr. Gray was a productive member of society. He was married to his high school sweetheart, owned his own home, and for many years supported his family as a journeyman painter and a member in good standing of Painters and Allied Trades Local Union #256.

After an exhaustive factual investigation conducted by clinic students, Susan Champion ’11 and Greg Rosenberg ’11, the Los Angeles District Attorney agreed that Mr. Gray was entitled to habeas corpus relief and a new reduced prison term.

Carl Gray has served eleven years of his 25 years to life sentence.  He is planning to enter a residential rehabilitation center in Pasadena, California.

Galit Lipa and Mike Romano supervised the students’ work with marvelous support from Lynda Johnston.

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1 Response to Three Strikes Project Secures Habeas Relief and Release for Client
  1. Everytime I hear such good news I have to say THANK YOU over and over. Your help to clear these men is a god sent wish to all non-violent inmates serving time under this unjust law.

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