Innocence Project out to free Manatee man

A Manatee County man in prison for 17 years started a new fight to prove his innocence.

Lawyers for Derrick Williams said they will use DNA tests to prove their client did not commit the crime he is accused of. Williams' attorneys held a news conference Tuesday morning before filing motions to request the DNA tests.

In March 1993, a jury found Williams, now 47, guilty of the rape and kidnapping of a woman Aug. 6, 1992, in a Palmetto orange grove. Williams maintained his innocence throughout his trial.

DNA test results

The Innocence Project of Florida requested DNA testing on the T-shirt worn by the assailant, which was left in the victim's car at the end of the crime.

The shirt supposedly worn by Williams was made the central piece of evidence in the case against Williams that sent him to prison. Yet, before the trial began, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement confirmed that a hair found on the shirt did not come from Williams.

However, after the DNA test results were made official, Williams' attorney Melissa Montle says that the testing excludes him as the donor of the DNA on the inside collar of the shirt, confirming that he is innocent.

"After over 17 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, the State should do the right thing and release this innocent man immediately," Montle said.

Management evidence of the case against Williams

Another facet of the case that Williams' attorneys plan to bring to the forefront is the management of evidence by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

Innocence Project officials say the Manatee County Sheriff's Office improperly stored and then unlawfully incinerated important physical evidence from the case.

Investigators say they found internal memos that indicate the office's knowledge of mold and climate control issues in their storage facility, yet they failed to do anything about it.

According to investigators, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office never made any effort to salvage evidence from Williams's case and nearly 4,000 other cases. Instead, the evidence from these cases was destroyed by mass incineration.

However, the Innocence Project for Florida reports that the office denied the evidence damage and destruction. The office apparently never informed any defendants or defense attorneys about the destruction either.

Seth Miller is the Executive Director for the Innocence Project of Florida, who spoke at a press conference for Williams' innocence.

"The State simply threw away important evidence in Derrick Williams' case and in thousands of other cases and pretended like it never happened," Miller said. "We now know that Derrick is innocent. How many others will never get the chance to prove their innocence because of this debacle?"

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office blames a flood on the destruction of the evidence. The Innocence Project of Florida believes it was negligence.

Battle for innocence

Tawanda Meanes, Williams' niece, spoke on behalf of the family, stating they are overjoyed and wait for the day Williams will be cleared of the charges and released from prison.

Also in favor of Williams' release is James Bain from Polk County. Bain is the state's most recent DNA exoneree.

"I have did 35 years for my wrong conviction," he said. "This gentleman as well has did the same."

However, Bay News 9's newspaper partner the Bradenton Herald says the battle for Williams' innocence may be an uphill one because prosecutors plan to appeal the testing.

The State Attorney's Office says they do not believe a lack of evidence proves his innocence.

The matter will likely go to a hearing before a judge to make a final decision.

Williams' attorneys and the Innocence Project say if he's not released on the DNA test results, at the minimum, they'd like a new trial.