One Year Ends and Another Begins

Hoping everyone enjoyed the holiday weekend, I did not want to smear the spirit with my woes.

Sleepless nights continue as I prepare myself mentally for what lies ahead; frantically trying to stay present to savor the immediate moments. Enjoying time with my family and friends and especially my mother for the holidays. I never stop thinking about my children and I repeat the mantra that "I did not commit a crime and Olivia was not ever injured. The forensic evidence PROVES this but people are strange." Insult to injury was being politically pilloried by the elected officials at the top of my own profession. Betrayal and anguish.

I don't want to be a whiner and I try to keep my chin up these days despite the fact that I cannot honestly believe this type of thing happens to anyone these days in a land of laws not men. Why me? No answer. It is what it is.

We have hope and a plan and I need support as I often get frozen like a deer in the headlights. I cannot explain why this happens as I am a fighter/problem solver and feel ashamed of my mental immobility. Yet here I am, Alive and well taking one day at a time.

More to come. Happy New Year.

Rob

Note from Rob

Dear loved ones, friends, and supporters:

I have some bad news and good news to report.

The bad news is that the Illinois Supreme Court was politically inclined to reinstate the conviction and overturn the Appellate Court. This is very bad.

The good news is that our legal team has committed to petition the United States Supreme Court to hear the ultimate appeal. Very few of these cases are granted so I must take other steps as well.

Needless to say, I have spent sleepless nights drafting this letter from every perspective, including that of an aggrieved attorney,
perplexed parent, stupified person and every other angle imaginable.

The anguish and despair are beyond words.

To say that my state has been catatonic would be an understatement.
Many of the details of the immediate future are yet unknown to me, but I will keep you posted as long as I REMAIN FREE ON BAIL.

Thank you for your support and encouragement which nourish my endurance (and have for 7 years now)! But the fight is not over and we must persevere for the good of many similarly situated individuals.

While I still cannot wrap my brain around the result, I am trying to put one foot in front of the other to move forward. It is once again the time for action.

While our trusted advisors seek certiorari to the US Supreme Court, I am seeking an attorney to simultaneously make a post-conviction relief claim – a collateral attack on the process that resulted in my wrongful conviction in violation of my rights. My ideal advocate would take this case pro bono, however it could be funded by my network of family and friends.

I am also concerned about the welfare of my children given that they are in the care of the person who developed this horrible lie to prevent me from getting custody. Perhaps some media coverage of this situation would be warranted – it will not free me, but it would reduce the likelihood of similar injustice to others. Any ideas you have or help you can give would be welcome.

Keeping hope alive and loving you all. More to come.

Rob

Oral Argument September 16, 2010 at 10 am

The Supreme Court of Illinois will hear oral arguments on September 16, 2010 in Springfield. There are 4 cases on the docket beginning at 9 am and Rob's is listed 3rd so 10 am should be the right time to hear his case. This is a great opportunity to see Jeffrey and Sarah in action. Good luck!

Release Granted!

Although I have not seen the court order, the news has just arrived that the Court of Appeals granted Rob's release motion. I don't know how long it will take for him to be tagged and released back into the wild, but I understand that bond will be posted just as soon as the Peoria County Circuit Clerk gets the official ruling. This is way better than Bastille Day!!! More to come...

No news - yet

Greetings,

We still have not heard when Rob will be released on bond.

Keep checking next week as we hope to hear soon.

Thanks for your support and patience. Keep your prayers and well-wishes coming!

Release Efforts

Rob's attorneys filed a Motion for Release today with the Illinois Court of Appeals. The motion referred to the previous times that Rob has been on pretrial release or bond and the fact that he never once abused that privilege. The motion also referred to his extensive and committed group of family and friends. The last time that Rob asked for release by the appellate court it was granted, and, of course, Rob met all of his obligations and conditions of release.

The motion also indicates that the Appellate prosecutor will move for Leave of Court to appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court. It is my understanding that leave is not often granted. What effect will this have on Rob's request for release? The court must find compelling circumstances to deny Rob's release. Rob has acted with honor and dignity throughout this ordeal and I cannot imagine what compelling circumstances would exist to deny his release.

Hi everyone,

By now I hope you all know that Rob has been granted a new trial. Thanks to the excellent work of the Northwestern Center for Wrongful Convictions, the Illinois Court of Appeals reversed the decision of the trial court.

The Court relied primarily on error in the exclusion of Rob's forensic expert witness. The Court also held that certain testimony should not have been admitted.

QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE:

Q1. Will Rob be released until his next trial? A1. On Thursday 7/16 Rob's attorney moved for a bond hearing. Since he has been in and out a few times there is a reasonably good chance that he should be out on bond but we don't know. We also don't know where the hearing will be held and we aren't sure who will represent him.

Q2. When will the new trial be held? A2. Our best guess is 6 months to a year.

Q3. May the prosecution decline to retry the case? A3. Yes.

Q4. How is Rob doing? A4. He is hanging in there. He has adapted to prison conditions and he is coping well, under the circumstances. He wants to be assured that we all support him and are working actively to get him out of there.

More updates will be posted as they are available.

Thank you!