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In a long-awaited decision, a Douglas County judge has granted Albert Wilson, who was wrongfully convicted in Kansas of rape in 2019, a new trial.
Albert was 24 years old when he was convicted by an all-white jury and sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for a rape he didn’t commit. In her decision, Judge Sally Pokorny said that his trial attorney provided ineffective assistance of counsel.
On September 10, 2016, Albert was at a popular college bar called Jayhawk Cafe (also known as “The Hawk”) near the University of Kansas. He met a young woman there and invited her back to his apartment.
The pair were only gone for 15 minutes. Albert says that while he and the young woman were at his apartment, he kissed her but the two never had sexual intercourse. While the exam found Albert’s DNA on her chest (where he admitted to kissing her), a rape kit found no seminal fluid or DNA on her clothing or on a vaginal swab.
“We are very relieved for Albert Wilson and his family today and obviously pleased with Judge Pokorny’s decision,” said Josh Dubin, who is representing Albert alongside attorney Michael Whalen. “This is the first step toward righting what we feel was a wrongful conviction. I look forward to fully vindicating Albert at a retrial in which all of the evidence, not just part of the story, is presented to a jury. Notwithstanding my confidence in clearing Albert Wilson’s name at a retrial, I would encourage a discourse with District Attorney Suzanne Valdez regarding whether it makes sense to continue to pursue this case, especially given the evidence that has come to light since Albert’s conviction.”
Lava Media founder and criminal justice advocate Jason Flom, who has lent his support to Albert’s case, also expressed optimism. “It’s been a long road for Albert and his family,” Flom said. “I sincerely hope that this new trial will be a turning point in this nightmare and that the facts will finally be heard.”
To learn more about Albert Wilson’s case, visit www.freealbertwilson.com.
