About
Michael
Michael
Lewis, known as Little B, was arrested at only 13 years old
for a murder he did not commit. Michael was tried as an adult
in an Atlanta, Georgia, courtroom, convicted and sentenced to
life in prison at the age of 14. In a case stricken with lying
drug-dealing witnesses, an incompetent public defender, concealed
evidence, and racism, this innocent young black man was condemned
to life in prison. Born and raised in The Bluff, an impoverished
area of Atlanta, Michael was condemned from the beginning of
his life. His criminal conviction is a tragic exemplification
of our inequitable legal system.
Michael
was tried as an adult under Georgia's Senate Bill 440, which
allows for children 13-17 years old to be prosecuted and sentenced
as adults if charged with certain offenses known as the seven
deadly sins.
The
newly elected district attorney, the first black D.A. in Georgia,
Paul Howard, declared at the outset that he would try this boy
like a man
Though
Michael was a ward of the state at the time of his arrest, he
was never assisted by child protection services, and he was
never read his Miranda rights.
The
only evidence against Michael was the testimony of admitted
drug dealers, one of whom, Big E, the state's star witness,
was also the original murder suspect. Although Big E was facing
40 years-to-life on his own felony drug-dealing charges, after
testifying against Michael and making a sealed deal with the
district attorney, he was set free!
Michaels
alibi witnesses were not interviewed or subpoenaed for trial.
Michaels
trial lasted only three days
Within
hours, the jury convicted Michael and sentenced him to LIFE
IN PRISON.
Within
a few weeks, Michael was transferred to Lee Arrendale State
Prison, called Alto, a Maximum Security Adult Prison. HE WAS
ONLY 14 YEARS OLD!
Michael's
public defender was not only markedly incompetent, he was facing
his own criminal charges, relating to bringing contraband into
a prison for a death row client
Michael
has been in prison for 9 years now, having turned 23 years old
this March 2006. He is currently serving out his life sentence
at Georgia State Prison in Reidsville, Georgia.
Many
neglected facts and potential witnesses can now be brought forward
in the next step in Michaels appeal, the filing of a Writ of
Habeas Corpus. We desperately need to raise funds for new legal
counsel. You have the power to help this innocent young man
while exposing the unjust Georgia state laws that are imprisoning
children, especially black youth, as 94% of children tried and
convicted as adults in Georgia have been black.
MICHAEL
LEWIS DESERVES A NEW TRIAL
AND A FAIR TRIAL!
The Michael Lewis Legal Defense Committee Needs Your Help
to Pay the Legal Fees for Michael's Appeal!
Please send your contribution to:
THE MICHAEL LEWIS LEGAL DEFENSE FUND
4060 Peachtree Road, D324
Atlanta, Georgia 30319
Michael's
Myspace
