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Efren Parades, Jr.

State: Michigan
Background
At the age of 15, Efren Parades, Jr. was arrested for the murder of the store manager of the grocery store where he worked as a bagger. Efren had no prior arrests, let alone juvenile convictions.
He was convicted based upon the testimony three juveniles, all of whom pled guilty and received much lighter sentences based upon their pleas and subsequent testimony against Efren. They have all since served their sentences, while Efren continues to serve a sentence of life without parole. The testimony of co-defendant Alex Mui has been proven demonstrably false by forensic testimony.

Efren's alibi defense fell on deaf ears to the jury, which was improperly influenced by the jury foreman's marriage to the aunt of the victim, which was not known at the time of the trial.

Learn more about Efren Parades, Jr. tragic wrongful conviction and his continued fight to prove his innocence at http://www.4efren.com/.

Update: March 8, 2010
In an extremely disappointing decision, Gov. Granholm denied Efren Paredes, Jr.'s commutation request today.

Resources

Commutation request for Efren Parades, Jr.
February 07, 2008
State: Michigan
Type: Sample Brief Or Motion
Topic: Juveniles and Wrongful Convictions

A wonderful sample of a commutation request for a wrongfully convicted juvenile.