Greetings of Solidarity! My name is Reginald Dwayne West. I am 34 years of age and currently incarcerated in at SCI Forest in PA. I have served 15 years of a life sentence in Pennsylvania State prisons. I maintain my innocence in the face of an unlawful case of false accusation, illegal arrest, misidentification, racial bias, and unjust sentencing. I want to share with you my story.
A Murder Occurs
On January 25, 2002, a man named Josue Crespo was shot to death on a street corner in Allentown. I had no interaction or connection with Josue Crespo, no knowledge of his death, and no motive for the crime. On the night of January 25th I was sitting in Safires Bar & Grill on Fifth Street. Two alibi witnesses testified that I was there and didn't leave the bar.
Falsely Accused
After the shooting, police had witnesses to the slaying, but had no hard leads. Weeks later, a man who was arrested on other charges, Jason Pena, said he overheard a conversation I had with someone else. Pena claimed he heard me saying I "got the wrong person." Pena also claimed that I was walking and talking with Josue Crespo the day before, despite the fact that Josue only spoke Spanish, and I speak no Spanish. My defense lawyer Maureen Coggins argued that Pena, who had pending charges in court, wasn't credible and gave police information he thought would get him favorable treatment in his own case. Coggins said that when she interviewed Pena in prison, he told her he lied to police.
Illegally Arrested
On February 9, 2002, I was accused of committing this murder of which I had no knowledge of or involvements in. An illegal search warrant was issued for my arrest, where I was living at the time in a working-class community on the Southside of Allentown. This search warrant was conducted without sufficient probable cause, and was conducted after the date on which the warrant expired. Upon the search of my property, several items were taken, but DNA testing of my blood and ballistics testing of my property failed to turn up any evidence connecting me to any crime. Regardless, the Allentown Police Department arrested me and held me without bail in the Lehigh County Jail until April 18, 2002.
Guilty Until Proven Innocent?
I was then taken to the Allentown Police Department to appear in an in person line up. Before the in-person line up, the public was already made aware that I was supposed to be this cold blooded killer, with a newspaper showing me handcuffed, being lead by the Allentown police with the caption, "victim walked with his killer." The witnesses of the murder were told they were looking for a Black male, around 18-24 years of age, 5'9'' or shorter, with braided hair. The Allentown Detectives picked five prison guards to stand in the line-up next to me, all of whom were over 6 feet tall and over 30 years of age, and none of whom had braided hair. The witnesses picked me out of the line up, but none of them were 100% sure it was me. On November 12, 2002, I was brought to trial and put in front of a jury that had no Black jurors. During this trial a lot of prejudice and racial bias issues were brought up that didn't pertain to my case. In the closing remarks, the DA compared my case to the case of the D.C. sniper, which incited the emotional rage of the jury. This was a hot button issue at the time and one of America's greatest tragedies, and to compare this case to my own was outright racist with the intent to villify me in front of the jury. Later, the judge admitted in his brief that the DA's statement was inappropriate. However, the jury found me guilty and I was convicted of 1st degree murder, which in Pennsylvania means I received a mandatory life sentence without parole.
Death By Incarceration
Being given a life sentence without chance for parole means that I am destined to spend the rest of my life behind bars, until the day that I die. I was convicted in 2003, and I have served nearly 15 years in State prison in PA. I have served time in long-term solitary confinement, I have been beaten, abused, and treated inhumanely. I have suffered medical neglect, been given starvation rations of food, and struggle to survive everyday in prison. In short, I am serving a sentence of Death By Incarceration. I am fighting for my life.
Take Back Freedom
It is inhumane to just throw a man who has been wrongly convicted into a cage, leave him for dead, and write him off. I am an innocent man taking a stand and I am asking for your help. We have a legal team who has reviewed my case, and strongly believes we have grounds to overturn my conviction. We are raising $4,000 to pay for the legal team to write an appeal for void judgement on the grounds of due process violations, and jursidiction issues. We are asking each and everyone of you to please help right this wrong. I need your support. Who amongst us are above needing help? We, loved ones, family members, associates, friends and are all standing in solidarity with him. Everyone has a role to play, and we all have something of benefit to offer, and with your support, we will help free an innocent man. Let’s come together, unite together, and become one in this ultimate goal for our collective freedom. It’s well worth our struggle. Thank you, and may the creator guide you and set you right in your path.
///// Free Reggie West and all Political Prisoners - End Mass Incarceration - End Life Without Parole - Abolish the Racist Death Penalty - End Solitary Confinement - Clean Water for All Prisoners Now - Solidarity with Prisoner Strikers - End Prison Slavery ////////
Power, Peace and Love
Reginald D. West
