MIDLAND COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- In 2003, Clinton Lee Young was sentenced to death after a Midland County jury found him guilty of murdering two people. For nearly 20 years, Young spent his time on death row in solitary confinement, until he was freed in 2022 pending a new trial. Now, a new set of jurors has confirmed his guilt once again.
In 2001 when Young was 17 years old, he was accused of shooting and killing 41-year-old Doyle Douglas, of Ore City, and 52-year-old Samuel Petrey, of Eastland. Both men were reportedly shot because Young and his co-defendants wanted to steal their vehicles for their personal use.
During Young’s trial, his three co-defendants testified against him and received lenient sentences in return for their testimony but Young and his legal team claimed that testimony was later found to be false; Young has adamantly maintained his innocence for more than two decades and said he was framed by his co-defendants.
“I was on death row…for a crime that I didn’t commit…I had no physical contact with my friends or family. I was in solitary confinement for over 20 years…facing death,” Young said in an interview in 2022.
In September of 2021, after 18 years on death row, Young’s conviction and death sentence were overturned by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and Young was granted a new trial because of “egregious prosecutorial misconduct” after it was discovered that the prosecutor in Young’s case during his original trial, as well as during the appeals and post-conviction phase, was simultaneously and in secret working as a law clerk for the judges presiding over Clinton’s case. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals said Young was denied the right to a fair trial and an impartial judge.
Previous Coverage: Clinton Young talks about moments of freedom while out on bond
In January of 2022, Young was released on bond while awaiting a new trial; that trial concluded on October 15 and Young was found guilty once again, according to family and friends. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison.
“It is with a very heavy heart and complete shock and disbelief that we have to announce that Clinton was convicted of capital murder and given a life sentence today. Obviously we believe this is an unjust outcome,” his loved ones said in a social media post.
Young reportedly plans to appeal the decision once again.
Thousands of supporters have followed Young’s case closely for years and believe in his innocence. You can learn more about Young, and those helping him advocate for a fair trial process for all, by visiting this website.
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