Wilbert Jones

A Louisiana jury found Jones guilty of aggravated rape based solely on the victim’s testimony. The victim expressed some uncertainty about her identification of Jones in a lineup, e.g., “[the victim] described her attacker variously as 5 feet 8 inches tall, 5 five feet 9 inches tall, and 6 feet 3 inches tall. She said he had a single gap between his front teeth and a smooth, soft voice. … [After identifying Jones as the perpetrator] she expressed concern because Jones’s voice was “rougher” than her attacker’s, and because Jones was only 5 feet 3 inches tall ….” The prosecution did not tell the defense about a serial rapist who had been arrested recently and fit the victim’s [in Wilbert Jones’ case] description. Louisiana incarcerated Jones for nearly 45 years before Innocence Project New Orleans helped him petition for a new trial. A district judge vacated Jones’ conviction and ordered a new trial. The prosecution appealed to the Louisiana Supreme Court, but the state’s highest court rejected the appeal. The prosecution dismissed the charges on October 11, 2018. Jones’ nearly 45 years in prison is the second longest time spent incarcerated after a known wrongful conviction in U.S. history.