Dewey Bozella
Encyclopedia
Dewey Bozella is a former amateur boxer who is best known for being falsely imprisoned
for a murder he did not commit. Convicted in 1983 for the murder of an elderly woman, Bozella served 26 years in prison before having his conviction overturned in 2009.
, who denied him parole on four occasions. Bozella contacted the Innocence Project
who agreed to examine his case. When the IP discovered that there was no DNA evidence remaining to be tested they referred the case to WilmerHale. Lawyers at WilmerHale discovered new evidence that had been suppressed by prosecutors showing Bozella was innocent. Supreme Court Justice James Rooney of Putnam County
agreed that the Dutchess County district attorney
had failed to disclose crucial evidence which would have proved Bozella’s innocence. In October 2009, Bozella was released from prison after serving 26 years.
While in prison Dewey took the advice of a fellow Sing Sing prison resident, who told him to better himself. He went on to get his Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, and 52 certificates, some in trades.
Bozella currently lives in Fishkill, New York
with his wife, Trena. While accepting an award in 2011, he told an ESPN
reporter that he still dreamed of having at least one professional fight one day.
His application for compensation from the State of California was turned down.
's annual ESPY Award show in the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live in Los Angeles
, where he was honored as the recipient of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award
.
vs Chad Dawson
match-up at Staples Center
in Los Angeles, California, against Larry Hopkins by a 4-round unanimous decision.
Bozella had been training with Bernard Hopkins in Philadelphia. President Barack Obama
reportedly telephoned Bozella to wish him luck in the upcoming fight.
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False imprisonment
False imprisonment is a restraint of a person in a bounded area without justification or consent. False imprisonment is a common-law felony and a tort. It applies to private as well as governmental detention...
for a murder he did not commit. Convicted in 1983 for the murder of an elderly woman, Bozella served 26 years in prison before having his conviction overturned in 2009.
Alleged offence and conviction
In 1977, 92-year-old Emma Crapser was murdered in her Poughkeepsie, New York apartment. Police alleged that Crapser walked in on a burglary that was being committed by a then 18 year old Bozella, who then killed her. In 1983, Bozella was convicted of murder and sentenced to 20 years to life in prison. He continued to claim he was innocent and refused to admit to the crimes he was alleged to have committed, even when in front of the parole boardParole Board
A parole board is a panel of people who decide whether an offender should be released from prison on parole after serving at least a minimum portion of their sentence as prescribed by the sentencing judge. Parole boards are used in many jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom and the United...
, who denied him parole on four occasions. Bozella contacted the Innocence Project
Innocence Project
An Innocence Project is one of a number of non-profit legal organizations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand dedicated to proving the innocence of wrongly convicted people through the use of DNA testing, and to reforming the criminal justice systems to...
who agreed to examine his case. When the IP discovered that there was no DNA evidence remaining to be tested they referred the case to WilmerHale. Lawyers at WilmerHale discovered new evidence that had been suppressed by prosecutors showing Bozella was innocent. Supreme Court Justice James Rooney of Putnam County
Putnam County
Putnam County is the name of nine counties in the United States of America:*Putnam County, Florida*Putnam County, Georgia*Putnam County, Illinois*Putnam County, Indiana*Putnam County, Missouri*Putnam County, New York*Putnam County, Ohio...
agreed that the Dutchess County district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
had failed to disclose crucial evidence which would have proved Bozella’s innocence. In October 2009, Bozella was released from prison after serving 26 years.
Prison life
Bozella was imprisoned at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, New York. While incarcerated at Sing Sing, he became the prison's light heavyweight boxing champion.While in prison Dewey took the advice of a fellow Sing Sing prison resident, who told him to better himself. He went on to get his Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, and 52 certificates, some in trades.
Life after prison
In October 2009, after being released from Sing Sing, Bozella began working with youths at a local gym in Newburgh, New York. At the gym, which is now closed, he worked with teenagers teaching them about boxing and about the dangers of joining a gang. He frequently visits various organizations to deliver speeches about his life experiences.Bozella currently lives in Fishkill, New York
Fishkill, New York
Fishkill is an upscale village within the much larger town, Town of Fishkill, one of the fastest growing towns in the region, in Dutchess County, New York, USA. The village population was 1,735 at the 2000 census...
with his wife, Trena. While accepting an award in 2011, he told an ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
reporter that he still dreamed of having at least one professional fight one day.
His application for compensation from the State of California was turned down.
2011 ESPY Awards
On July 13, 2011, Bozella's life was chronicled in ESPNESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's annual ESPY Award show in the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where he was honored as the recipient of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award
Arthur Ashe Courage Award
The Arthur Ashe Courage Award is an award that is part of the ESPY Awards. Although it is a sport-oriented award, it is not limited to sports-related people or actions.-List of recipients:-External links:***...
.
Professional debut
On October 15, 2011, Bozella won his professional boxing debut on the undercard of the Bernard HopkinsBernard Hopkins
Bernard Hopkins Jr, known as The Executioner is an American boxer and the current Ring Magazine and WBC light heavyweight champion...
vs Chad Dawson
Chad Dawson
"Bad" Chad Dawson is an American boxer from Hartsville, South Carolina, USA, and the former WBC & IBF light heavyweight champion. Dawson is rated by The Ring Magazine as the number four Light Heavyweight boxer in the world.-Early life:...
match-up at Staples Center
Staples Center
Staples Center is a multi-purpose sports arena in Downtown Los Angeles. Adjacent to the L.A. Live development, it is located next to the Los Angeles Convention Center complex along Figueroa Street. Opening on October 17, 1999, it is one of the major sporting facilities in the Greater Los Angeles...
in Los Angeles, California, against Larry Hopkins by a 4-round unanimous decision.
Bozella had been training with Bernard Hopkins in Philadelphia. President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
reportedly telephoned Bozella to wish him luck in the upcoming fight.
Professional boxing record
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Larry Hopkins |||4 (4)||
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