Injustice Unveiled: Man Wrongfully Convicted of Attempted Rape in 1993 Awarded Compensation After Parallel Cases Surface

The Maryland Attorney General’s Office released the following press release on Wednesday, December 13: “Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today applauded the Maryland Board of Public Works’s approval of compensation for Grant Jones, who, in 1993, was wrongfully accused and convicted of attempted rape and unjustly imprisoned for four years. This compensation comes at a crucial time as Mr. Jones battles failing health, exacerbated by the unjust incarceration that he endured.
The reinvestigation of Mr. Jones’ case resulted from the review of another case involving Walter Lomax Act exoneree, David Veney. While the Wicomico County States Attorney’s Office
(SAO) was reinvestigating Mr. Veney’s case, it uncovered striking parallels between the two: nearly identical accusations lodged by the same accuser. After a thorough reexamination of Mr.
Jones’ case, the Wicomico County SAO determined that Mr. Jones, like Mr. Veney, was innocent of the crimes of which he’d been convicted. As a result, the Circuit Court for Wicomico
County granted the Wicomico County SAO’s Motion to Vacate Mr. Jones’ case, and the charges against him were dismissed in August 2023.

On September 8, 2023, Mr. Jones sought compensation under the Walter Lomax Act, a 2021 law that establishes a fair and straightforward path for Marylanders who have been proven innocent
of a crime to seek compensation from the State. Administrative Law Judge Kathleen Chapman issued a Final Decision on December 1, 2023, declaring that Mr. Jones had been proven
innocent, by clear and convincing evidence, of the crime of which he was convicted, and awarded Mr. Jones compensation and state-issued benefits.

“Mr. Jones’ compensation award will help him address some of the consequences of his wrongful conviction and incarceration. But it cannot restore the years that were unjustly taken
away from him. This case underscores the ongoing need for reform within the criminal justice system,” said Attorney General Brown.

Mr. Jones will receive $346,913.25 from the Board of Public Works and $89,100.00 from the Department of Housing and Community Development for housing accommodations.
Additionally, Mr. Jones will receive education and training relevant to life skills, job and vocational training, or financial literacy through the Department of Labor; health and dental benefits from the Department of Health; a State identification card through the Motor Vehicle Administration; and enrollment and payment of tuition and fees for attending a public higher education institution through the Maryland Higher Education Commission. In collaboration with these state agencies, the Maryland Office of the Attorney General will work diligently to facilitate the administration of these benefits, with sincere hopes that Mr. Jones, despite his failing health, will be able to avail himself of the support he deserves in his journey towards justice.”

https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/press/2023/121323.pdf