Category Archives: Wrongful Convictions

Warm Breezes, Common Threads, Rippling Effects…

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A beautiful summer-like evening welcomed this year’s Great North Innocence Project (GN-IP) Gala. The event themed, Ripple Effects, was held at the Nicollet Island Pavilion in Minneapolis on September 24, 2025. Joining us this year were my sister, Clare and fellow innocence advocate, Mark Charron. Also joining us for the first time was one of our six guys, Keith Kutska. Former attorneys, Steve Kaplan and John Lundquist, both of whom worked on Keith’s post-conviction appeal, were in attendance and had come over to greet us shortly after we arrived. They whisked Keith away to introduce him to other notable people throughout the evening.

We all were excited for a rare opportunity to meet the evening’s keynote speaker/exoneree, Jarett Adams.

Image courtesy of the GN-IP

Among the exonerees we met that evening for the first time was Edgar Barrientos-Quintana who was wrongfully convicted in 2009 and exonerated in 2024. I mention him in my third edition of Reclaiming Lives while citing an article written by the current Hennepin County Prosecutor, Mary Moriarty. In the article, Why I prioritized establishing a conviction integrity unit in Hennepin County, Moriarty writes, “Barrientos-Quintana’s case presents numerous issues that often show up in cases of wrongful conviction. Those include flawed eyewitness identification procedures, coercive interviews of youth witnesses, failure to disclose exculpatory evidence and failure to recognize obvious evidence of innocence once the investigation locked into a narrative of guilt.”

I shared with Edgar the mention of him in my book and gifted him a copy. I also made it a point to meet supportive family members of his who had accompanied him that evening. They all are exceptional people full of warmth.

We chatted with our friend and MN exoneree, Michael Hansen, who was dining with his wife, Shaylee, at a picnic table nearby. As I gave him a copy of my third edition I asked, “You know that there’s a picture of you in my book from when you participated in one of our car shows, right? “There is?” Mike inquired excitedly. “Yes! I also have a summary of your case and describe how we first met! Look! I said. I turned to the photo section. “Wow, that’s cool! I do remember that.” Mike recalled.

Mike Hansen speaking at a 2015 ‘Hotrod Breakout’ car show/fundraiser

As we enjoyed buffet style offerings of delectable food items at our picnic table, I kept an eye out for a specific GN-IP client who was exonerated in 2023, Marvin Haynes. Haynes had attended the 2024 Benefit for Innocence. However, that was prior to my realizing a prior connection between us. I wanted to refresh his memory of that connection and to introduce myself this time around. (This specific instance warrants a separate blog posting so, stay tuned for that.)

Joan and Marvin Haynes

Following dinner was a presentation with awards being given out and various speakers. It was then when we learned unexpectedly that two Wisconsin exonerees were in attendance. Two brothers, David and Bobby Bintz, had been represented by the GN-IP, with pro bono support from Chestnut Cambronne, and the Wisconsin Innocence Project (WIP). The brothers were exonerated in 2024 and were among the many exonerees being recognized during this event.

We made it a priority to meet the Bintz brothers, mainly because of the common thread that linked their case with the Monfils case. The same prosecutor, John Zakowski, who by the way, continues to be a Circuit Court Judge despite the growing list of overturned convictions on his record as prosecutor, is that link. We spent quite a bit of time visiting with David and Bobby, two great guys who were more than willing to pose for numerous photos.

Bobby Bintz, Clare Martinson, Joan, and David Bintz

David, Keith, Bobby  

The Bintz brothers are currently involved in a $2 million dollar lawsuit (for each) which would provide compensation for their wrongful convictions. Both entering their seventies, they have no sustaining income or other financial prospects. The standard $5,000/year with a cap of $25,000 in Wisconsin is inadequate given their situation. In fact, Jarrett Adams recently spoke directly to the Wisconsin Claims Board on their behalf about what they deserve: “…real compensation—not capped payouts and red tape.”

Clare and Bobby

Mike and David

Adams’ keynote address was inspiring, full of hopeful sentiment, and insight. His humble disposition was representative of the many exonerees I’ve met in the past. His frankness in combatting wrongful convictions and ability to now make a difference through his law firm Jarrett Adams Law sent an undeniable surge of energy throughout the entire room.

Inspiring speech given by Keynote speaker, Jarrett Adams

A philosophical analysis of wrongful convictions…

In anticipation of meeting Adams, I had prepared a gift bag which included a copy of my third edition and a copy of The Monfils Conspiracy. Following the program I approached him during a rare interval between visits with other attendees. He was so welcoming. “This is for you.” I handed the bag to him. He looked inside, excitement growing on his face. He was grateful for my gift, AND super excited to dig into both books. His assistant also examined the books with great interest.

Joan with  Jarrett Adams

“I’ll be right back. I want to put these where I won’t forget them,” Adams said as he rushed to a nearby table. He was back in a flash. We all proceeded to visit with him at length. He and Keith bonded immediately so we gave them space to converse. I spoke with Adams again later on. “How can I reach you? he had asked. “My email address is inside my book, I explained. “Great, he said. Expect to hear from me.”

Joan with Jarrett Adams and Keith 

Keith especially enjoyed connecting with Adams and many other exonerees. Having an opportunity to also meet GN-IP Executive Director, Sara Jones, GN-IP Legal Director, Jim Mayer, and so many others felt like a big deal to him. He later shared how relevant he had felt all evening and expressed the warmth that radiated from everyone he had met. “It felt like a safe place with no one judging me,” he had said afterward.

Joan, Keith, Sara Jones

Bobby,  Jim Mayer, Keith

As I continue to support and advocate for Keith and his codefendants through book events and other events similar to this, I am filled with the satisfaction of having told them repeatedly through letters while incarcerated, about the vast amount of support they have on the outside. Now…they get to experience that support in real time…

A quick note: I recently won a book award for this third edition. How fitting for a story full of champions!

My publisher embossed the decal onto the front cover image which will be present on future printed copies.

FYI: Jarrett Adams has also written a memoir called Redeeming Justice.

If you have thoughts/feedback about my content please feel free to share them on this site. Thank you. Take care…

Hey Y’all! Tip(sy)ing the Scales of Justice Toward Truth…

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Our venue on July 21st was the recently opened Hey Y’all Typsy Taco Bar (now permanently closed). It occupied the vacated space of the restaurant better known as Betty Danger’s. This new space was charming and inviting. And it had the iconic Ferris wheel still on site, still accessible to diners.

 

But that was not the ride attendees experienced for my second book launch in NE Minneapolis. It was more of a roller coaster of deep emotion including laughter, anger, gist, and full-on support for a dedicated initiative on behalf of six innocent men.

Approximately 30 people attended to support this endeavor, to meet my special guest, Keith Kutska, and to hear him speak about his experience of being targeted, charged, and convicted for a crime he did not commit.

FYI: Because Keith was released on parole, he was required to ask for permission from his Parole Officer (PO) in order to travel over the border from Wisconsin into Minnesota. He showed me his “Travel Permit,” a piece of paper he needed to have with him at all times while he was away. Keith joked about it when he arrived but I don’t think any of us truly appreciate the feelings associated with having restrictions such as these placed on us as adults.

In my introduction, I shared Keith’s readiness to take back his life and accomplish meaningful things. High on his wish list was an eagerness to collaborate with me on book events. I also shared this heart-wrenching quote from Keith which I included in my book:

“Prior to his release and in our final moments during my first prison visit with him, he became thoughtful. ‘I have to tell you something,’ he had said as he looked me squarely in the eyes. ‘In the span of time between the failed attempt at a new trial for Reynold Moore and the start of the legal proceedings by the MN law firm, your letters kept me alive.’”

(Top L) Amy Jauman, (Top R) Debbie Russell, both part of the Women of Words (WOW) writing Group.

In attendance were longtime and more recent friends. Former attorney, Steve Kaplan, who represented Keith in a post-conviction evidentiary hearing in 2015, was there to lend his unwavering support. My program mimicked the previous book launch in Wisconsin with an explanation of my involvement in this endeavor, a summary of the case, followed by questions from the audience.

   

Keith was nervous at first. Even though I reassured him that this would be a positive experience, he, like the other men, was unsure of how well he would be received. He eventually felt more at ease and became animated and somewhat thoughtful. And after twenty-eight years of wrongful incarceration, he was unapologetic about his unfettered opinion of the criminal justice system.

Following the program, feedback varied:

One person shared their agitation over the negatively broad picture Keith had painted of the entire system. This person stressed that it’s not like that. I thought back to my partnership with Johnny Johnson, the retired crime scene expert who became livid with how unethical and corrupt the lead detective had been while investigating this case initially. I remembered Johnny’s vow to make sure he didn’t get away with it. Both Johnny and this person had worked in the legal field. Both similarly asserted that they had worked hard and had dedicated their careers to doing things the correct way.

Which brings me to an important point I make in my book: “I do want to emphasize that even after all I’ve learned about this case and about wrongful convictions in general, I firmly believe that our legal system gets it right the majority of the time. We just need to be cognizant of those instances when it doesn’t.”

Other comments included:                                                                                                                    “You did a wonderful job of putting him [Keith] at ease,” and

“You guys did a great job tonight! It was very interesting hearing Keith’s perspective on things.”

This past week I participated in a recorded conversation that I will be sharing as soon as it’s available. In it I was asked if I feel there has been a shift in public opinion regarding this case. I believe there has. I believe that no matter the roughness of the ride, we will continue to raise the bar toward truth and justice…

Note: Some photos were taken and sent to me by some of the attendees.

Bird’s-Eye (Witness) Testimonial…

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My son, Jared, told me about an experience he had while being vetted for jury duty. With it being closely related to my writings and to the photo lineup I use in my class visits using his photo, I asked him to write about that experience. The following is the piece he sent to me:

Essay by Jared Manninen:

I’ve lived at Lake Tahoe for 20 years, and one of the defining characteristics of being local is that we’re often summoned for jury duty multiple times per year. Usually just once, but I’ve received the call three times in a single year on multiple occasions. Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean that we actually have to report to the courthouse each time and then serve on a jury. Usually, we’re waived off the night before via an automated phone and online message. But prior to the day, we still essentially have to clear our schedule just in case.

In all fairness, though, I’ve only had to physically report to the courthouse a handful of times. But a few years ago I was summoned and, not only was I required to show up in person, I was also put in the potential jurors’ box to be vetted by the prosecutor and defense attorney. Mind you, this vetting process can take multiple days and involve hundreds of citizens. Basically, the attorneys only question a dozen potential jurors at a time. So the whole thing is laborious and time-consuming.

I don’t recall the nature of the case in which I was summoned because the attorneys asked broad questions so as not to give away any of its details. They didn’t want to influence the jury pool, after all. However, one of the troubling aspects that I do recall about this particular case was that the prosecutor admitted that he had no evidence beyond eyewitness testimony. I don’t even think he mentioned that he had any type of circumstantial evidence to back up the testimony. So one of the questions posed to us was whether or not we would have a problem with this scenario.

Now, the prosecutor did preface this by addressing the fact that crime procedural shows such as CSI and NCIS were very popular and have convinced the American populace into believing that DNA and other physical evidence is everywhere for the taking. However, this is obviously not true, and we all acknowledged that real life is not nearly as formulaic as a 42-minute TV crime show.

I was the only person in the juror box, however, to raise my hand in opposition to the fact that we’d only be hearing eyewitness testimony. The prosecutor, therefore, zeroed in on me and questioned my rationale.

The photo lineup Jared and I created to illustrate the real pitfalls of mistaken witness identification

I described the wrongful conviction case in which my mother was working. And based on our many conversations, as well as the books, articles, and interviews that I had read about wrongful convictions, I learned that without corroborating physical evidence, eyewitness testimony is not reliable. In fact, according to the National Registry of Exonerations, mistaken witness identification (i.e. eyewitness testimony) happens in 27% of all wrongful conviction cases. That’s one in four! In addition, the percentage of mistaken witness identification cases of those exonerated through DNA testing is approximately 75%. So I was very dismayed by the fact that the entire case on which I was potentially going to be a juror was relying completely on eyewitness testimony.

Needless to say, after the brief conversation the prosecutor dismissed me as a potential juror. He clearly didn’t want me influencing anyone else in the room. And this was fine because I had no interest in being part of a “he said/she said” type of case. Honestly, I can’t even believe a situation like that would find its way into the courtroom.

In the years since that jury summons, my belief about the fallacy of eyewitness testimony has only grown stronger. And, of all things, this has been a direct result of becoming an avid birder*. But I’m a birder who carries a camera with me.

I know this may sound off-topic. However, birding is essentially a lesson in eyewitness testimony. Literally, I go outside to see certain birds. I specifically train myself to notice unique field marks, flight patterns, shapes, and behaviors that help me to identify those birds. But I still get it wrong sometimes! This is why I always carry with me a camera to capture physical evidence (i.e. photographs) to either confirm or correct my identifications.

And it’s not just me who sometimes incorrectly identifies bird species. Everybody does! Even some of my friends, who I consider to be experts, occasionally misidentify a bird. Our debate ends quickly, though, once I show them the photo that I took of the bird in question.

So expert “observers” still make mistakes. Now, imagine being a random person walking down the street minding your own business when you casually notice out of the corner of your eye somebody running out of a convenience store (after it was robbed, for example). It should be fairly obvious why eyewitness testimony wouldn’t be reliable under those circumstances. Ultimately, atmospheric conditions, physical obstacles, distractions, fatigue, mental biases, and other factors conspire to erode our perception of what we believe we’re seeing.

Jared in his element, in the mountains at Lake Tahoe (Photo courtesy of Jared Manninen)

Jared Manninen is an artist and writer who has lived at Lake Tahoe since 2005. He’s an avid hiker, cross-country skier/instructor, and amateur naturalist who works in the outdoor recreation industry. As a result of this immersive experience, his art, photography, and writing all reflect his appreciation for Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierra Nevada Mountains.

“The purpose behind my art is to not only share my love of Lake Tahoe but, more importantly, to inspire you to go outside and have your own adventures (regardless of where you are).”                        —  Jared Manninen

*Incidentally, Jared participated in the Tahoe Big Year for birding in 2024. He came in first place by identifying (and providing proof with photos) the most bird species in the Tahoe region. He recently gave a talk about that experience at the Tahoe Public Library.

Here is an audio (1 hr. 11 minute) version of his talk which includes photos of the bird species he photographed throughout the year.