| First Name | Joseph |
| Last Name | Fears |
| Year of Conviction | 1984 |
| Year of Exoneration | 2009 |
| Testing inculpated culprit | Cold Hit |
| State of Conviction | Ohio |
| Trial, Bench Trial, or Guilty Plea | Trial |
| Type of Crime | Rape |
| Death Sentence | No |
| Gender of Exoneree | Male |
| Race of exoneree | Black |
| Juvenile | No |
| Type of Innocence Defense |
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| Description / Quotes from Testimony Concerning Defense | ● Two alibi witnesses testified. |
| Did the defendant testify at trial? | No |
| Types of evidence at trial |
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| Identity of eyewitness |
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| Multiple eyewitnesses | 3 |
| Lineup Procedures |
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| Suggestive Procedures | No – victim was an Acquaintance |
| Unreliable Identification? | No ● Discrepancies in description – facial hair, hair, one witness’ inability to provide any description |
| Quotes from testimony #2 | One described a mustache, while another a goatee. One described a short afro, while another described hair that was slicked down. A third eyewitness said, “I couldn’t describe something from that night. It was almost a year ago.” |
| Highest level reached | Appeal |
| Claims Raised During All Appeals and Postconviction |
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