Arthur Carmona
County: Orange
Convicted of: Armed Robbery (2 counts)
Year of Conviction: 1998
Sentence: 12 years
Year Released: 2000
Years Served: 2 years
Wrongful Conviction Factors: Mistaken eyewitness identification; police misconduct
Read our statement about Arthur's tragic murder on February 17, 2008
In 1998, Arthur Carmona, a 16 year old student at Costa Mesa High School, believed in the criminal justice system. Arthur was living in southern California, enjoying school and being with his friends. The events that occurred on February 12th of that year, however, dissolved Arthur's youth, snatching with it the hope of this young man.
"There are pictures of graduation," says Arthur, of his high school class, "but it means nothing to me."
On February 12th, 1998, two robberies occurred: at a Juice Bar in Irvine and at a Costa Mesa Denny's restaurant. A gunman clad in dark clothing and a Los Angeles Lakers cap robbed the two locations and then fled in a truck driven by Shawn Kaiwi. Kaiwi, apprehended that night, told police that a guy got into his car with a gun and told him to drop him off down the freeway. Police arrested Kaiwi and during their search found clothing and the Lakers cap inside the truck.
Two hours after the Irvine robbery, Arthur was walking to a friend's house when he noticed a helicopter circling directly above him. Seconds later, he was stopped at gunpoint by police. Arthur was not wearing dark clothing or a cap, according to the complaint. Witnesses to both robberies were brought to the scene of Arthur's arrest. They could not identify him at first, but when police asked Arthur to put on the cap and a jacket, witnesses made the identification.
Carmona, tried as an adult, was convicted and sentenced to 12 years based largely on the witness statements.
From the beginning, Arthur maintained his innocence. Family members and supporters started a campaign for his release, and began raising money. A Weekly and Los Angeles Times columnist, Dana Parsons began poking holes in the case and eyewitnesses recanted their testimony, including Kaiwi, who eventually admitted he did not know Arthur.
On August 22nd, 2000, an Orange County Superior Court considered the overwhelming evidence that Carmona had been wrongfully convicted of both crimes and ordered his release with the agreement of the DA, but only after a stipulation that he would not sue them or the police.
Arthur was murdered in 2008 while leaving a party with friends.
