Nebraska Board of Pardons will hear Earnest Jackson’s case on Sept. 19 | Nebraska Examiner

LINCOLN — The Nebraska Board of Pardons assembly Sept. 19 could also be one other alternative for freedom for Earnest Jackson. 

Jackson, 40, has served greater than 20 years on the Nebraska State Penitentiary after being convicted of first-degree homicide. Jackson went by two trials and won’t be eligible for parole till 2029 — all for a killing that one other man has confessed to. 

In 2000, Jackson was one among three individuals charged for the homicide of Lance Perry, an Omaha teenager. Jackson was 17 years previous on the time. 

Jackson was the primary of the three youngsters who had been charged within the case to go to trial. Throughout his trial, Jackson argued that he was at his aunt’s home the evening the taking pictures occurred. Even so, Jackson was convicted and sentenced to life in jail.

After Jackson’s conviction, Shalamar Cooperrider, the second teenager tried within the case, confessed to taking pictures Perry however argued that it was in self-defense. The jury discovered Cooperrider not responsible. The third particular person charged within the homicide, Dante Chillous, was acquitted due to Cooperrider’s confession.

Even supposing Cooperrider had confessed to the taking pictures and in addition testified throughout his trial that Jackson was not current when the taking pictures occurred, Jackson was unable to get a brand new trial. The courtroom reasoned that the proof was not newly found — which might have triggered a brand new trial —  however quite newly obtainable. 

After a U.S. Supreme Courtroom ruling in 2012, all minors who had obtained a life sentence had been eligible for a brand new trial. In 2015, Earnest Jackson went to trial once more, however his conviction was upheld, and he was sentenced to 60-80 years in jail.

Brenda Jackson-Williams, Earnest Jackson’s mom, mentioned she remembers each trials as in the event that they had been yesterday. She says she felt a variety of feelings however by no means felt panicked, and he or she all the time believed that her son was harmless. 

“I by no means felt the sense of hopelessness,” Brenda Jackson-Williams advised the Nebraska Examiner on Saturday. “I simply didn’t know when, however I knew Earnest was going to return dwelling.” 

Jackson-Williams tried to boost as a lot consciousness about her son’s case as doable after the primary and second trials. She mentioned she was decided to battle what she perceived as a miscarriage of justice. 

“We tried to unfold as a lot consciousness by phrase of mouth,” she mentioned. “I additionally tried to go to completely different information organizations, however a few of them didn’t need to have something to do with it.” 

Alternatives for progress

Throughout Jackson’s incarceration, he has missed many life-changing occasions, together with the deaths of his brother, father and stepfather. Nevertheless, he met and married his spouse, Tracy, who has additionally advocated for his launch.

Though behind bars, Jackson mentioned in a phone interview from jail that he has sought out numerous academic alternatives over time. He mentioned getting his GED whereas serving his sentence gave him a way of taking again his energy.

From there, he participated within the 7 Habits of Extremely Efficient Folks Signature Program. Upon completion, Earnest Jackson grew to become a facilitator for this system and started educating it to different inmates. 

He then participated within the RISE Academy, a reentry program, and a Defy Ventures program that outfitted him with a business-ready diploma from the College of Nebraska at Omaha. 

Earnest and Tracy Jackson say the upcoming Board of Pardons assembly offers them hope. 

“The boy incarcerated in 2000, though unjustly, is just not the person that I’m in the present day,” Earnest Jackson mentioned.

Tracy Jackson is bracing for the listening to. “[I’m] anxious, nervous and afraid of the rejection once more,” she mentioned. “We’re hoping the Pardons Board does the correct factor.” 

Legislative invoice

Having the Pardons Board comply with a pardon in a homicide case could be uncommon. The final commutation for a homicide sentence in Nebraska occurred in April 2013. Laddie Dittrich, who obtained the commutation, was arrested and charged with sexual assault in November 2014. His parole was revoked shortly after. Gov. Pete Ricketts has cited that case in saying the board doesn’t need to make any extra errors.

The Nebraska Board of Pardons at the moment consists of Ricketts, Legal professional Basic Doug Peterson and Secretary of State Robert Evnen. 

If the Board of Pardons turns down Earnest Jackson’s request, the Nebraska Legislature for doable reduction. State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha launched Legislative Invoice 28 in the 2021 legislative session to “allow people to file motions for brand spanking new trials when new proof or materials is found, or new testimony has turn out to be obtainable that might not be produced at trial.” 

The laws would have enabled Earnest Jackson to hunt a brand new trial and use Cooperrider’s confession as proof. The invoice was carried over, and late on this 12 months’s session, Wayne added  it to a precedence invoice, however that invoice didn’t move. Wayne advised the Nebraska Examiner he plans to reintroduce the measure through the subsequent session. 

Neighborhood assist

Earnest Jackson and his household have obtained a lot group assist over the past two years. SendEarnestHome.com and a Fb web page with the identical identify had been created to unfold consciousness about his case and encourage community advocacy for him.

A Change.org petition for Earnest Jackson to be pardoned has garnered nearly 61,000 signatures, and group activists have held a number of marches and rallies. 

“It’s surreal,” Earnest Jackson mentioned concerning the group assist he has obtained. “These are issues that I see on TV and never issues that I see occurring round me.” 

He mentioned he feels humbled by all of the group assist and needs to interrupt the stigma surrounding incarcerated individuals. He says that pardons are in place to present individuals a second likelihood at life, and he needs to be a constructive instance.

“I’m not somebody who’s coming on the market to tear down something in our group,” Earnest Jackson mentioned. “My factor I would like them to grasp about me is that I’m popping out with a coronary heart stuffed with love, compassion, understanding, and resolve to need to assist everybody.”