Darryl Adams

Time Served: 21 Years

Headshot of Adams D
Source: Innocence Project of Texas
CHARGE
Sexual Assault
CONVICTED
1992
SENTENCE
25 Years
RELEASED
2003
COUNTY
Dallas
EXONERATED
2017

Background

On August 12, 1992, a passerby flagged down a Dallas police officer to report that a woman was being raped nearby. When police came to the scene, they found a woman, two children and two men – 25-year-old Darryl Adams and 25-year-old Ronald Eubanks – sleeping on the street near a Salvation Army shelter.

When the police woke them, the woman at first denied she had been attacked. However, when the officers escorted the woman away from the men and questioned her, the woman said that Adams had raped her and that Eubanks had attempted to rape her. Both men stated they were innocent of the crime.

Arrest & Trial

Darren and Ronald were arrested and charged with aggravated sexual assault. On September 17, 1992, believing that they would not receive a fair trial, both men pled guilty to the charge in Dallas County Criminal District Court. They each were sentenced to 10 years’ probation.

A year later their probation was revoked after Darryl was charged with a burglary and Ronald was caught using marijuana. Adams was sentenced to 25 years in prison and Eubanks was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Eubanks was released on parole on June 3, 2003.

Release

After their sentencing, Darryl and Ronald sought DNA testing. A collaborative investigation involving IPTX and the Dallas County District Attorney’s conviction integrity unit resulted in a series of DNA tests being performed.

In 2014, testing of the rape kit identified a male DNA profile and excluded both Darryl and Ronald. IPTX filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus seeking to vacate Darryl’s conviction. Ronald was represented by other attorneys. Darryl was released on bond on August 11, 2014.

Exoneration

The District Attorney filed a response in support of the petition and agreed that if the DNA test results had been available after the crime, the defendants would not have been convicted. In March 2016, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals granted Darryl’s writ and vacated his conviction. The case was sent back to Dallas County where it remained pending a decision in Ronald’s case. In December 2016, the Court of Criminal Appeals granted Ronald’s writ and vacated his conviction as well. On February 8, 2017, the prosecution dismissed the charges against Eubanks and Adams.

Headshot of Adams D
Source: Innocence Project of Texas

Media Coverage

Systemic Failures Have Wrongly
Imprisoned Thousands of
Innocent Texans.

The Generosity of Their Fellow Citizens Can Provide Them
The Freedom They Deserve.

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