Current Cases
Working to free the wrongfully convicted.
Below are the cases the California Innocence Project is currently working on and has decided warrant filing appeals in order to seek the release of the defendant. For media requests regarding these cases, please complete the media request form found here. For a more detailed account of each individual case, click on the client’s photo.
Raymond Chagolla
County of Conviction: Riverside
Wrongfully Convicted of: First Degree Murder
Sentence: 50 Years to Life
Year of Conviction: 2000
Cost of Wrongful Incarceration: $1,440,000 and counting
Anthony Chairez
County of Conviction: Los Angeles
Wrongfully Convicted of: Attempted Murder, Aggravated Mayhem
Sentence: Life plus 25 years
Year of Conviction: 2004
Cost of Wrongful Incarceration: $1,218,045 and counting
Ed Contreras
County of Conviction: Los Angeles
Wrongfully Convicted of: First Degree Felony Murder
Sentence: Life without Parole
Year of Conviction: 1997
Cost of Wrongful Incarceration: $1,786,576 and counting
David Diaz
County of Conviction: Los Angeles
Wrongfully Convicted of: Attempted Murder
Sentence: 37 Years to Life
Year of Conviction: 1999
Cost of Wrongful Incarceration: $1,512,000 and counting
Jason Guzman
County of Conviction: Los Angeles
Wrongfully Convicted of: Murder
Sentence: 25 Years to Life
Year of Conviction: 1997
Cost of Wrongful Incarceration: $1,786,466 and counting
Rodney Patrick McNeal
County of Conviction: San Bernardino
Wrongfully Convicted of: Two Counts of Second Degree Murder
Sentence: 30 Years to Life
Year of Conviction: 2000
Cost of Wrongful Incarceration: $1,542,857 and counting
Joann Parks
County of Conviction: Los Angeles
Wrongfully Convicted of: Three Counts of First Degree Murder
Sentence: Life without Parole
Year of Conviction: 1993
Cost of Wrongful Incarceration: $2,111,278 and counting
Jermaine Smothers
County of Conviction: San Diego
Wrongfully Convicted of: Murder
Sentence: 29 Years to Life
Year of Conviction: 1996
Cost of Wrongful Incarceration: $1,867,669 and counting
George Vizcarra
County of Conviction: San Bernardino
Wrongfully Convicted of: Assault on a Child Causing Death
Sentence: 25 Years to Life
Year of Conviction: 2002
Cost of Wrongful Incarceration: $1,368,000 and counting
Jason Walton
County of Conviction: Los Angeles
Wrongfully Convicted of: First Degree Murder, Attempted Murder
Sentence: 50 Years to Life
Year of Conviction: 2006
Cost of Wrongful Incarceration: $1,055,639 and counting