
CURRENT CASELOAD
THE CASE: Waverly Case
TIMELINE: 1998 - PRESENT
BRIEF OVERVIEW : In 1998 Terence Jerome Richardson and Ferrone Claiborne were falsely accused of killing Officer Allen W. Gibson in Waverly, Virginia. Although they initially pleaded not guilty, with the looming threat of the death penalty and advice from their counsel, both men accepted plea deals. In 2000, federal prosecutors launched an investigation into the case, and in 2001 a jury found them NOT GUILTY of murdering Officer Gibson; however, the presiding judge sentenced both men to life in prison based on their original pleas.
In 2018, Life After Justice and our President Jarrett Adams, Esq. became involved in both cases. Adams uncovered new exculpatory evidence that LAJ is certain proves Mr. Richardson and Mr. Claiborne’s innocence. Since April 2021, there have been several petitions filed and court appearances that have garnered support from officials like the former Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring.
WHERE IT STANDS : On Friday, January 17, 2025, President Biden demonstrated the true meaning of justice and compassion by commuting the sentences of Terence Richardson and Ferrone Claiborne, two men who have spent over 20 years in prison for a crime they were found not guilty of. We are profoundly grateful to President Biden for recognizing the injustice in their case and taking this extraordinary step to correct it.
While this decision allows Terence and Ferrone to finally return home to their families and begin rebuilding their lives, our fight for their complete exoneration continues. Commutation is a critical milestone, but it is not the final step to proving their innocence. We now await a decision on the Actual Innocence Petition before the Virginia Appellate Court.
SUPPORTERS : In addition to broad national coverage and the aforementioned persons, the Waverly Case is currently being supported by The Innocence Project, the Virginia and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Virginia NAACP and more.
PRESS CONTACT : LAJ@ssmandl.com
For additional information, please visit the official website for the Waverly Case or click on its viral hashtag: Not Guilty Serving Life #NotGuiltyServingLife
Waverly Burning Episode 1
Waverly Burning Episode 3
Waverly Burning Episode 2
Waverly Burning Episode 4