House committee advances resolutions to compensate four men exonerated by post-conviction reviews

A House committee on Friday advanced four separate House resolutions recommending compensation for men who were later exonerated after post-conviction reviews and investigations.

The resolutions, offered under LC numbers 60,053; 60,054; 60,052; and 60,051, respectively, would compensate Mario Stinchcomb, a man exonerated by the Fulton Conviction Integrity Unit; a co-defendant identified as Mr. Wolfolk; Daryl Lee Clark; and Joseph (Joey) Samuel Watkins. The committee chair, Chairman Dempsey, put each measure to a voice vote and members said “aye.”

Representative (unnamed A), who introduced two of the resolutions, described Mr. Stinchcomb’s case as one in which “physical evidence has always supported the testimony that the shooting was in self defense” and said the Fulton Conviction Integrity Unit later found a key witness who corroborated the self-defense claim. The presenter said Stinchcomb spent 18 years in prison before his exoneration.

Representative (unnamed A) also asked for favorable consideration of Mr. Wolfolk, describing him as a co-defendant in the same incident and noting he, too, was later exonerated by the Fulton Conviction Integrity Unit.

Representative (unnamed B) introduced the two other resolutions. She said Daryl Lee Clark was 17 at the time of the crime and that the case included “manufactured evidence,” false statements, a witness who was deaf and severely learning impaired without specialized interpreters, witness coercion and alleged Brady violations. Representative (unnamed B) told the committee Clark lost 25 years of his life and urged compensation.

On the resolution for Joseph (Joey) Samuel Watkins, Representative (unnamed B) said Watkins was 18 at the time of the conduct at issue and that the record, as later uncovered, showed he could not have been in the location where the victim was shot. She described juror misconduct, claims that relevant forensic evidence had been withheld and testimony by a Georgia Bureau of Investigation analyst that the presenter characterized as false.

The presenters noted two of the resolutions previously passed the full House last year; Representative (unnamed B) said the floor vote for both of those measures was 162-2. Committee members did not request additional debate and each resolution was advanced by voice vote.

Votes at a glance

- LC 60,053 (House Resolution 119) — Compensation for Mario Stinchcomb; motion to “do pass” adopted by voice vote; outcome: approved by committee. - LC 60,054 (House Resolution 118) — Compensation for Mr. Wolfolk; motion to “do pass” adopted by voice vote; outcome: approved by committee. - LC 60,052 (House Resolution 129) — Compensation for Daryl Lee Clark; motion to “do pass” adopted by voice vote; outcome: approved by committee. - LC 60,051 (House Resolution 128) — Compensation for Joseph (Joey) Samuel Watkins; motion to “do pass” adopted by voice vote; outcome: approved by committee.

What the presenters said and record details

- Mario Stinchcomb: Presenter said Stinchcomb was the first exoneration by the Fulton Conviction Integrity Unit, that physical evidence supported a self-defense claim, and that a previously believed-dead witness was located and corroborated that the shooting was in response to the victim firing first. Presenter said Stinchcomb served 18 years in prison. - Mr. Wolfolk: Presenter said Wolfolk was a co-defendant in the same incident as Stinchcomb and was later exonerated by the Fulton Conviction Integrity Unit. - Daryl Lee Clark: Presenter said Clark was 17 at the time of the conduct at issue; alleged problems included a relationship between the lead detective and the victim’s aunt, manufactured evidence, false statements, a witness who was deaf and severely learning impaired without specialized sign-language interpreters, witness coercion, and alleged Brady violations. Presenter said Clark lost 25 years of his life. - Joseph (Joey) Samuel Watkins: Presenter said Watkins was 18 at the time; described juror misconduct during deliberations, allegations that the state failed to disclose forensic testing related to a bullet recovered from a dog near the victim’s grave, and testimony by a GBI analyst that the presenter characterized as false.

Committee procedure and next steps

Chairman Dempsey called for motions and, after a second on each item, members approved the measures by voice vote. The presenters indicated that some of the resolutions previously passed the House floor in an earlier session; the committee did not record roll-call tallies on the voice votes during this meeting. The measures will proceed according to legislative rules for resolutions of this type.

The committee adjourned after advancing the four resolutions.