| First Name | Robert |
| Last Name | McClendon |
| Year of Conviction | 1991 |
| Year of Exoneration | 2008 |
| State of Conviction | Ohio |
| Trial, Bench Trial, or Guilty Plea | Bench Trial |
| Type of Crime | Rape |
| Death Sentence | No |
| Life / LWOP sentence | Life |
| Gender of Exoneree | Male |
| Race of exoneree | Black |
| Juvenile | No |
| Type of Innocence Defense |
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| Description / Quotes from Testimony Concerning Defense | ● Phone records show that defendant received a call at 4:59 pm when the crime was occurring. Victim did not testify to hearing a call or a beeper page during the attak. |
| Did the defendant testify at trial? | Yes |
| Quotes from Exoneree Testimony | “Q: Did you ever, either on the 19th or the 25th, remove [the victim] from her back yard? A: Of course not. Q: Have you ever seen that young lady in her back yard? A: Never. I never been to the house. Q: Did you ever have any contact with that young lady — A: Never. Q: — as she described, ever? A: Never.” |
| Types of evidence at trial |
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| Identity of eyewitness |
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| Lineup Procedures |
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| Suggestive Procedures | Yes ● Victim not told attacker might not be in line-up But – acquainted with defendant (father) |
| Quotes from testimony #1 | Officer asked victim, “if the man who was responsible, who did what he did, was in the photograph.” |
| Unreliable Identification? | Yes ● Could not see attacker’s face – blindfolded during attack |
| Quotes from testimony #2 | At hospital victim gave statement that “I think it was my dad but I may be wrong because my eyes were covered a lot… I don’t want my dad to go to jail if he really didn’t do it,” but recanted that statement at trial, testifying “I never made the statement.” |
| Highest level reached | Appeal |
| Claims Raised During All Appeals and Postconviction |
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| Harmless Error Rulings |
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| Citations to judicial opinions | State v. McClendon, 1992 WL 125274 (Ohio App. 10 Dist. 1992) |