My Name is Lamont Ray Wilkins, and I am currently serving Life +85 years for the death of an innocent bystander. she was struck by a stray bullet that came through her window.
A brief overview of the issues surrounding my case are as follows:
1. I was unarmed on the night in question.
2. I am not convicted as the shooter, I was convicted because my codefendants, Kathryn Danielle Bomyea and Allison Koren Kroboth, testified that there were my bodyguards. They pled guilty to 1st and 2nd degree murder respectively, along with malicious wounding, conspiracy, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. They were guaranteed 15 years for their testimony – with no “plea deal” so there would be no paper trail. both knew beforehand that regardless, as long as they testified against me their sentences were etched in stone.
3. The lead detective, the first on the scene, the detective whom interviewed every witness against me and my codefendants, gathered evidence, was the first person to enter the victim’s apartment, and who testified at my jury trial.. Robert Glenn Ford, was sentenced to 12 1/2 years for Extorting and Taking Bribes from drug dealers, and Lying Under Oath. coincidentally, my codefendant Kathryn also alleged to me that Ford beat her up during her interview, but she never came forth and let it be known to anyone else.
4. “Somehow…” a Jailhouse Snitch by the name of Preston Thomas – whom was housed next-door to me on a supermax floor, was put in the back of the same squad car with my female codefendant Kathryn. He’d already let me know that she told him everything he needed to know and he could “burn” me “at any time.” On the last day of my jury trial, without any prior notice, Preston Thomas was called as a “Surprise” witness. He testified that I had confessed out of the blue and he “just so happened to be there” to hear it. he went on to tell the jury things that only someone involved with the case could know. I attempted to call witnesses and had Kathryn recalled to the stand. The Commonwealth called for a recess at that very moment and, in my personal opinion, “reminded” Kathryn of what she had to lose should it come to light that she told Preston Thomas the details that he testified about. She took the stand and lied, saying she was in fact in the back seat with him, but she didn’t talk about the case with him. was after my conviction, Preston Thomas went from having to serve 6 1/2yrs in prison to going home immediately.
5. I am now finding out that Preston Thomas is a quasi- professional at this sort of thing. Thus far, I am only one of thee people just in the city of Norfolk, Virginia that he has done this too. two of us have received Life + sentences. a fourth person – Carlton Byrd, was convicted in New York and received an indeterminate term of 25 years to Life. As I stated, these are the only people that I know of, I believe there are more.
6. The male victim – Terrance Hyman, testified that he was five feet away from me and my codefendants and described guns. He testified that he made the statement to detective Ford that “The Black Guy didn’t have a gun.” because he was in shock. he turned in his firearm, stated he emptied the magazine – but did not know why there were no shell casings to be found anywhere, nor why no gunpowder residue was found on him or his clothing.
7. During the Appeals process, the Commonwealth stated the fact that the bullets recovered from the scene, fired in the direction Terrance Hyman was shooting in did not match his gun could be easily explained:
A – Because those bullets were recovered days later and “could have come from anybody.” and B – Because those bullets that don’t match Terrance’s gun, could have been the bullets that I was firing. The judge rubber stamped this, not realizing that this means that it puts me in a position where I’m allegedly shooting in the opposite direction of the murder.
8. Detective Ford’s partner testified that he took “a copy of a photocopied fingerprint card,” and made a positive match of four sets of prints found on a box of firearm cartridges -(380cal.) and the match belonged to me… contrary to the Certificate of Analysis which stated that there was “No Match Affected.”
9.Lastly, I’m a Black man, on trial for the death of a Black woman… during jury selection, the Commonwealth, a Caucasian woman named Linda L Bryant, targeted Black women exclusively. My case from beginning to end is rife with lies, backroom deals, racial disparity, intimidation, and perjured testimony.
With the exception of the Norfolk 4 whom are a majority white, I haven’t heard of anyone else’s case being reviewed, retried, or overturned because of the corruption of ex detective Ford.
