Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor
Made of L.A.
Donate
Stay Connected

LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network. For the latest national news from NPR and our live radio broadcast, visit LAist.com/radio

Keep up with our local independent news

The Top 5 newsletter catches you up with LA’s top 5 stories in just 3 minutes.
Donate

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Wrongly Accused, Released from Prison, Killed at Party

By  Zach Behrens
Published Feb 18, 2008 11:00 PM
Support your source for local news!
The local news you read here every day is crafted for you, but right now, we need your help to keep it going. In these uncertain times, your support is even more important. Today, put a dollar value on the trustworthy reporting you rely on all year long. We can't hold those in power accountable and uplift voices from the community without your partnership. Thank you.

Arthur Paul Carmona, 26, an advocate for people wrongly accused of crimes who was wrongly accused himself and incarcerated for 2 1/2 years as a teenager in Orange County was killed this weekend. His name became widely known when he was arrested when he was 16 and convicted of robbing two juice bars in Irvine and Costa Mesa:

His mother mustered support for her son and political and community outrage followed over police tactics that led to her son's arrest. Support for overturning his 12-year prison sentence came from law firms, community groups, Hollywood actors and the politically active rock band Rage Against the Machine. In August 2000, a judge ordered a new trial. The District Attorney decided not to seek a new trial and Carmona was released. [MSNBC]

In an unfortunate incident, the Orange County resident was killed early Sunday morning when he was hit by a vehicle after an argument at a party. MSNBC reports that "devastated family members said the timing of Carmona's death is especially tragic because he'd just recently begun to heal from his time behind bars and was beginning to pursue new passions." Carmona was learning to become a firefighter and was working with the American Civil Liberties Union's Innocence Project. Santa Ana police were
Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor
still searching for the driver of the truck that killed Carmona.

Photo by guamafro via Flickr

Most Read
Best of LAist