State v. Leroy Spruill and Wallace Brandon Jones

About the Case

In State v. Spruill and Jones the Commission conducted a hearing on October 1-5, 2018. The Commission voted unanimously that there was sufficient evidence of factual innocence to merit judicial review. At that time, the cases were referred to a three-judge panel.

In lieu of the case being heard by a three-judge panel, Assistant Attorney General Boz Zellinger offered Mr. Spruill and Mr. Jones Alford pleas which would allow both to be released with time served. An Alford Plea “is when a defendant maintains his innocence but admits that the state has sufficient evidence to convict him and agrees to be treated as guilty.” See North Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25 (1970). On November 8, 2021, Mr. Spruill and Mr. Jones each accepted the Alford plea. They were released from prison on November 10, 2021.

The documents presented at the Commission hearing became public record and are included here. The transcript of the Commission hearing is available for viewing ONLY. If you would like to purchase a printed copy of the hearing transcript, please contact Wanda Constantino at (919) 548-4914 or [email protected].