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Prosecutor under fire in contested Texas execution

By WTOP Staff

NOMAAN MERCHANT
Associated Press

DALLAS (AP) — A nonprofit group on Monday accused the prosecutor in the case of a Texas man executed for the fire deaths of his three daughters of trying to cover up a jailhouse informant’s recantation.

The New York-based Innocence Project, which investigates potential wrongful convictions, said it had filed a state bar grievance against John H. Jackson, a former prosecutor and judge who oversaw the case against Cameron Todd Willingham.

Willingham was executed in 2004 for killing his three daughters in a house fire in Corsicana. The project has long pursued Willingham’s case for evidence suggesting that Texas wrongfully executed him. State officials have maintained that they still believe he was guilty of murder.

A key witness in the case was inmate Johnny Webb, who testified that while in jail awaiting trial, Willingham confessed to Webb that he had killed the girls.

In its latest grievance filing, dated July 25, the Innocence Project reiterated allegations that Jackson lied about getting Webb a lighter sentence on a robbery case. It also accuses Jackson and a local wealthy rancher in Corsicana of working to conceal Webb’s change of heart, which occurred years before Willingham’s execution.

The Innocence Project accused Jackson of hiding a handwritten letter written by Webb in 2000 that was titled “Motion to Recant Testimony.” Attorneys on the case have said they found the letter years after Willingham’s death.

“I was (forced) to testify against Mr. Willingham by the D.A.’s office and other officials,” Webb wrote in the note, posted online by The Marshall Project, a nonprofit journalism group that examined the case and published an account of its findings Monday.

“I was made to lie,” Webb said in the note. “Mr. Willingham is innocent of all charges.”

Jackson did not return several messages from The Associated Press on Monday. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing in the case. He has acknowledged working to get Webb out of prison early for his robbery conviction, but said he did so because Webb was receiving death threats from the Aryan Brotherhood due to his testimony.

Webb told the Marshall Project that rancher Charles S. Pearce, aid for his entry into a diving school after his release and sent him money for years afterward. The Innocence Project accused Pearce of being Jackson’s “wealthy friend” and communicating with him often about Webb.

Pearce died in 2008, and his daughter, Vivian, told the Marshall Project that she didn’t believe her father would have abetted false testimony.

The State Bar of Texas would not comment Monday on the grievance filing. The bar typically takes about 30 days to review petitions and decide whether to proceed against a lawyer. If the state bar moves forward, Jackson could lose his law license.

A house fire in 1991 killed Willingham’s three daughters: 2-year-old Amber and 1-year-old twins Karmon and Kameron. Fire investigators testifying against Willingham said they concluded the fire was set intentionally.

But several fire science experts and a state panel have since said that conclusion was wrong and unsupported by evidence. Combined with Webb’s recantation, supporters of Willingham have called his execution a wrongful death and have pushed on state officials to acknowledge his innocence.

Republican Gov. Rick Perry, who previously called Willingham a “monster” guilty of killing the three girls, has reaffirmed his position, and the Texas parole board earlier this year denied a request to pardon him posthumously.

State advocates, meanwhile, are working with the Texas Fire Marshal’s Office to review old arson cases and have won several reforms designed to avoid wrongful convictions.

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Follow Nomaan Merchant on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nomaanmerchant.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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