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March 1981 | | | |
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Arrested while hitchhiking and charged in Terrebonne Parish rape
of a Houma nurse in a sugar cane field off Grand Caillou Road near Houma.
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June 1982 | | | |
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Jurors reject claims of innocence and convict him of aggravated rape,
which carries a mandatory life sentence. Sent to Louisiana State Penitentiary at
Angola.
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1990 | | | |
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Begins asking courts for a DNA test.
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October 1993 | | | |
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State judge in Houma orders the rape kit released for DNA testing.
Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office and district attorney oppose the test and a
judge agrees, prohibiting the testing.
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Spring to Winter 1994 | | | |
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State First Circuit Court of Appeal and State Supreme
Court deny defense requests for test, which Charles' family would pay for.
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November 1996 | | | |
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Family asks Innocence Project at Yeshiva University's Benjamin
Cardozo School of Law in New York for help.
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June 1998 | | | |
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Charles files suit in federal court in New Orleans, asking for a
court-ordered DNA test.
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November 1998 | | | |
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Federal magistrate recommends throwing out request because
conviction was upheld by state appellate courts.
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December 1998 | | | |
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Federal District Judge Ginger Berrigan rejects magistrate's
ruling and transfers case to another magistrate.
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May, 1999 | | | |
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Federal Magistrate Sally Shushan presides over agreement among all
parties and allows for DNA test.
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Nov. 19, 1999 | | | |
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The Innocence Project's Barry Scheck calls Charles to say that
the test clears him as rapist. It's Charles' 46th birthday.
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Afternoon, Dec. 17, 1999 | | | |
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Officials at the FBI lab at Quantico notify
Terrebonne Parish District Attorney Joseph Waitz Jr. that their preliminary
test also clears Charles. Terrebonne judge, at Waitz's request, releases
Charles on bond until final testing test is completed.
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Evening, Dec. 17 | | | |
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Charles is released from prison and steps into a waiting
limousine for the ride home. Clyde Alton Charles and his sister, Lois Hill,
prepare for a television interview at Hill's home in Thibodaux. Charles was
released from prison Friday night after serving 18 years for the rape of a
Houma woman. He was released after DNA tests proved his
innocence.
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