Latest news with #FairbanksFour
CBS News
18-04-2025
- CBS News
Alaska Native man who maintained innocence in murder of white teen settles for $11.5 million after 2 decades in prison
An Alaska Native man who maintained his innocence in the 1997 killing of a white teenager has agreed to an $11.5 million settlement with the city of Fairbanks after alleging police acted with a racial bias in a case in which he and three other Indigenous men spent nearly two decades in prison. Marvin Roberts is the last of the so-called Fairbanks Four to reach a settlement with the city after their murder convictions were vacated in 2015. U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason dismissed his long-running civil lawsuit against the city and police officers on Thursday at the request of the parties involved. "I don't think any amount of money will be enough to justify what I endured as an innocent man in prison," Roberts said in a recent statement released by one of the law firms that represented him. "This settlement, however, gives me freedom with my life, and most importantly, more time with my daughter and my parents, who supported me throughout this nightmare." Fairbanks city attorney Tom Chard confirmed the city and its insurance carriers had agreed to an $11.5 million settlement. Terms of the agreement set out a payment schedule, the last due by Oct. 1, 2026. The agreement stipulates that the settlement "shall not be construed as an admission of liability or responsibility" by the defendants. The settlement is a "complete vindication of Marvin Roberts' innocence, which he has maintained with extraordinary dignity for almost three decades," one of Roberts' attorneys, Nick Brustin of Neufeld Scheck Brustin Hoffmann & Freudenberger, LLP, said in a statement released by the New York-based civil rights firm. The agreement comes nearly 1 1/2 years after the other three men, George Frese, Eugene Vent and Kevin Pease, agreed to accept $1.59 million each from the city's insurer. The city said that settlement was "not an admission of liability or fault of any kind." Roberts chose not to settle in 2023, instead choosing to move forward with the appeal, KTUU reported . "They were all offered, you know, $1.6 million or so each. Three out of the four took that deal," Roberts' attorney Mike Kramer said, according to the station. "It's hard to walk away from a million bucks, particularly when the city's still saying 'you're guilty and we're going to appeal everything in this case and we're going to drag this out until you're old men.'" Alaska Native leaders long advocated for the men's release, saying the convictions were racially motivated. Pease is Native American; Frese, Vent and Roberts are Athabascan Alaska Natives. Roberts was the only one of the four who was on parole at the time the convictions were thrown out. A 2015 settlement in a civil case brought by the men that led to the convictions being thrown out followed a weeks-long hearing that reexamined the case in detail and raised the possibility others had killed 15-year-old John Hartman. While the four men each maintained their innocence, the Alaska Department of Law said the settlement was not an exoneration. The men would argue the settlement that led to their release - in which they agreed not to sue - was not legally binding because they were coerced. An appeals court panel ruled in their favor. Fairbanks Police spokesperson Teal Soden said the agency still lists Hartman's killing as an "open/active" case.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
Alaska Native man who alleged wrongful conviction in murder case reaches $11.5M settlement
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska Native man who maintained his innocence in the 1997 killing of a white teenager has agreed to an $11.5 million settlement with the city of Fairbanks after alleging police acted with a racial bias in a case in which he and three other Indigenous men spent nearly two decades in prison. Marvin Roberts is the last of the so-called Fairbanks Four to reach a settlement with the city after their murder convictions were vacated in 2015. While the agreement in his long-running civil lawsuit against the city and police officers was announced in late March, the parties on Wednesday formally asked a judge to dismiss Roberts' case, citing the settlement. 'I don't think any amount of money will be enough to justify what I endured as an innocent man in prison," Roberts said in a recent statement. "This settlement, however, gives me freedom with my life, and most importantly, more time with my daughter and my parents, who supported me throughout this nightmare.' Fairbanks city attorney Tom Chard confirmed the city and its insurance carriers had agreed to an $11.5 million settlement. Terms of the agreement set out a schedule for release of funds, with the final payment due by Oct. 1, 2026. The agreement stipulates that the settlement 'shall not be construed as an admission of liability or responsibility' by the defendants. Nick Brustin, a member of Roberts' legal team with Neufeld Scheck Brustin Hoffmann & Freudenberger, LLP, a New York-based civil rights firm, in a statement called the agreement a 'vindication of Marvin Roberts' innocence, which he has maintained with extraordinary dignity for almost three decades.' The agreement comes nearly 1 1/2 years after the other three men, George Frese, Eugene Vent and Kevin Pease, agreed to a settlement in which they each were to receive $1.59 million from the city's insurer. The city in that case said the settlement was "not an admission of liability or fault of any kind.' Alaska Native leaders long advocated for the men's release, saying the convictions were racially motivated. Pease is Native American; Frese, Vent and Roberts are Athabascan Alaska Natives. Roberts was the only one of the four who was on parole at the time the convictions were thrown out. A 2015 settlement in a civil case brought by the men that led to the convictions being thrown out followed a weeks-long hearing reexamining the case in detail and raised the possibility that others had killed 15-year-old John Hartman. While the four men each maintained their innocence, the Alaska Department of Law said the settlement was not an exoneration. The men would argue the settlement that led to their release — in which they agreed not to sue — was not legally binding because they were coerced. An appeals court panel ruled in their favor. Teal Soden, a spokesperson for the Fairbanks police department, said the agency lists Hartman's killing as an 'open/active' case.
Associated Press
17-04-2025
- Associated Press
Alaska Native man who alleged wrongful conviction in murder case reaches $11.5M settlement
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska Native man who maintained his innocence in the 1997 killing of a white teenager has agreed to an $11.5 million settlement with the city of Fairbanks after alleging police acted with a racial bias in a case in which he and three other Indigenous men spent nearly two decades in prison. Marvin Roberts is the last of the so-called Fairbanks Four to reach a settlement with the city after their murder convictions were vacated in 2015. While the agreement in his long-running civil lawsuit against the city and police officers was announced in late March, the parties on Wednesday formally asked a judge to dismiss Roberts' case, citing the settlement. 'I don't think any amount of money will be enough to justify what I endured as an innocent man in prison,' Roberts said in a recent statement. 'This settlement, however, gives me freedom with my life, and most importantly, more time with my daughter and my parents, who supported me throughout this nightmare.' Fairbanks city attorney Tom Chard confirmed the city and its insurance carriers had agreed to an $11.5 million settlement. Terms of the agreement set out a schedule for release of funds, with the final payment due by Oct. 1, 2026. The agreement stipulates that the settlement 'shall not be construed as an admission of liability or responsibility' by the defendants. Nick Brustin, a member of Roberts' legal team with Neufeld Scheck Brustin Hoffmann & Freudenberger, LLP, a New York-based civil rights firm, in a statement called the agreement a 'vindication of Marvin Roberts' innocence, which he has maintained with extraordinary dignity for almost three decades.' The agreement comes nearly 1 1/2 years after the other three men, George Frese, Eugene Vent and Kevin Pease, agreed to a settlement in which they each were to receive $1.59 million from the city's insurer. The city in that case said the settlement was 'not an admission of liability or fault of any kind.' Alaska Native leaders long advocated for the men's release, saying the convictions were racially motivated. Pease is Native American; Frese, Vent and Roberts are Athabascan Alaska Natives. Roberts was the only one of the four who was on parole at the time the convictions were thrown out. A 2015 settlement in a civil case brought by the men that led to the convictions being thrown out followed a weeks-long hearing reexamining the case in detail and raised the possibility that others had killed 15-year-old John Hartman. While the four men each maintained their innocence, the Alaska Department of Law said the settlement was not an exoneration. The men would argue the settlement that led to their release — in which they agreed not to sue — was not legally binding because they were coerced. An appeals court panel ruled in their favor. Teal Soden, a spokesperson for the Fairbanks police department, said the agency lists Hartman's killing as an 'open/active' case.
The Independent
17-04-2025
- The Independent
Alaska Native man who alleged wrongful conviction in murder case reaches $11.5M settlement
An Alaska Native man who maintained his innocence in the 1997 killing of a white teenager has agreed to an $11.5 million settlement with the city of Fairbanks after alleging police acted with a racial bias in a case in which he and three other Indigenous men spent nearly two decades in prison. Marvin Roberts is the last of the so-called Fairbanks Four to reach a settlement with the city after their murder convictions were vacated in 2015. While the agreement in his long-running civil lawsuit against the city and police officers was announced in late March, the parties on Wednesday formally asked a judge to dismiss Roberts' case, citing the settlement. 'I don't think any amount of money will be enough to justify what I endured as an innocent man in prison," Roberts said in a recent statement. "This settlement, however, gives me freedom with my life, and most importantly, more time with my daughter and my parents, who supported me throughout this nightmare.' Fairbanks city attorney Tom Chard confirmed the city and its insurance carriers had agreed to an $11.5 million settlement. Terms of the agreement set out a schedule for release of funds, with the final payment due by Oct. 1, 2026. The agreement stipulates that the settlement 'shall not be construed as an admission of liability or responsibility' by the defendants. Nick Brustin, a member of Roberts' legal team with Neufeld Scheck Brustin Hoffmann & Freudenberger, LLP, a New York-based civil rights firm, in a statement called the agreement a 'vindication of Marvin Roberts' innocence, which he has maintained with extraordinary dignity for almost three decades.' The agreement comes nearly 1 1/2 years after the other three men, George Frese, Eugene Vent and Kevin Pease, agreed to a settlement in which they each were to receive $1.59 million from the city's insurer. The city in that case said the settlement was "not an admission of liability or fault of any kind.' Alaska Native leaders long advocated for the men's release, saying the convictions were racially motivated. Pease is Native American; Frese, Vent and Roberts are Athabascan Alaska Natives. Roberts was the only one of the four who was on parole at the time the convictions were thrown out. A 2015 settlement in a civil case brought by the men that led to the convictions being thrown out followed a weeks-long hearing reexamining the case in detail and raised the possibility that others had killed 15-year-old John Hartman. While the four men each maintained their innocence, the Alaska Department of Law said the settlement was not an exoneration. The men would argue the settlement that led to their release — in which they agreed not to sue — was not legally binding because they were coerced. An appeals court panel ruled in their favor. Teal Soden, a spokesperson for the Fairbanks police department, said the agency lists Hartman's killing as an 'open/active' case.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Yahoo
Alaska city will pay $11.5M for wrongful conviction
Richard Arlin WalkerSpecial to ICT Marvin Roberts, an Athabascan man who spent nearly 18 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit, reached an $11.5 million settlement with the City of Fairbanks, Alaska, and four former police officers. The settlement, announced on March 25, is believed to be the largest settlement ever paid by the City of Fairbanks. Roberts was one of four Indigenous young men arrested in 1997 for the beating death of John Hartman, a Fairbanks teenager. Advocates for the four men, who came to be known as the Fairbanks Four, saw their arrests as a racially biased rush to judgment (the officers that investigated Hartman's death and made the arrests are white). The men – George Frese, Kevin Pease, Eugene Vent, and Roberts – were convicted despite witness testimony from alibi witnesses and that alleged they were elsewhere that evening, and the absence of DNA and other physical evidence connecting the young men to the crime. The case attracted the attention of journalist Brian O'Donoghue, a University of Alaska professor in Fairbanks, and Bill Oberly of the Alaska Innocence Project. O'Donoghue's journalism students uncovered evidence of jury misconduct. The Alaska Innocence Project discovered evidence that police had buried – including a confession from a former Fairbanks resident serving a life sentence in California for a drug-related triple murder in 2002. An independent investigation by Alaska State Troopers determined the investigation by Fairbanks Police was poorly done and lacked any incriminating evidence. The state vacated the convictions in 2015 and the men were freed. They later filed civil rights lawsuits against the four police officers – Jim Geier, Dave Kendrick, Chris Nolan and Aaron Ring – and the City of Fairbanks. Frese, Pease and Vent shared agreed to a settlement of $5 million they agreed to in 2024. Roberts declined the settlement, and his civil rights lawsuit was scheduled to go to trial in December 2025. "The upcoming trial, the massive and irrefutable police misconduct, and the fact the four police officers finally admitted fault during their recent depositions were all factors that led to this settlement,' attorney Mike Kramer of Kramer and Cosgrove said in a statement released by his office. 'Marvin Roberts proved himself to be incredibly resilient and strong in his 28-year quest for justice and when it became clear to the City that he wasn't going to back down, they did what they should have done long ago and finally made up for some of the harms they inflicted. The City refused to publicly apologize, but the $11.5 million they agreed to pay reflects that they finally recognized they made terrible mistakes that sent an innocent man to prison.' Roberts said in a statement released by Kramer and Cosgrove that no amount of money will be enough to justify what he endured as an innocent man. 'This settlement, however, gives me freedom with my life, and most importantly, more time with my daughter and my parents, who supported me throughout this nightmare,' he said. 'I thank God for helping me through that ordeal.' Roberts thanked his family, O'Donoghue, the Alaska Innocence Project, 'and all other family, friends and Fairbanks Four supporters who believed in me.' The state Attorney General's office, which prosecuted the Fairbanks Four, recognized in 2015 that if the men were retried 'it is not clear' they would be convicted and agreed to vacate their convictions and release them from prison. The City of Fairbanks has paid a total of $16.5 million to settle the Fairbanks Four's civil rights lawsuits. And yet, there have been no admissions and no apologies from state and local officials. Officers Geier, Kendrick, Nolan and Ring stayed on at the department and 'retired at different times over the last 25 years,' police department spokesman Teal Soden told ICT. 'Their departure from the department was not related to the John Hartman case at all.' When the state attorney general's office vacated the convictions and freed the men in 2015, it pointed out that it was 'not an exoneration.' When the City of Fairbanks settled in 2024 with Frese, Pease and Vent, it pointed out that the settlement 'was not an admission of liability or fault.' And now, in Roberts' settlement, the City of Fairbanks 'refused to publicly apologize,' Kramer said. But, he said, 'The $11.5 million they agreed to pay reflects that they finally recognized they made terrible mistakes that sent an innocent man to prison.' ICT reached out to Fairbanks Mayor David Pruhs and his chief of staff, Michael Sanders, on March 26 but received no reply by deadline. ICT also left a message for Brian Ridley, chief of the Tanana Chiefs Conference, which lobbied for a review of the Fairbanks Four's case and the men's eventual freedom, but also received no reply by deadline. Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICT's free newsletter. ICT, formerly Indian Country Today, is a nonprofit news organization that covers the Indigenous world with a daily digital platform and news broadcast with international viewership.
