Convicted ex-cop Daniel Holtzclaw files appeal with U.S. Supreme Court
01/07/2020 1:45 pm PST
By Kaylee Douglas, KFOR
WASHINGTON, D.C. (KFOR) -- Last week, attorney James Hankins filed Daniel Holtzclaw's petition for review to the United States Supreme Court.
“Holtzclaw seeks review of the unjust and unconstitutional ruling against him issued by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals (OCCA) in August 2019,” said Hankins.
Daniel Holtzclaw's appeal request for his 18 convictions and 263-year prison sentence was denied in August.
TRUE CRIME DAILY: Daniel Holtzclaw case coverage
Judge David Lewis of the court of criminal appeals said, in his opinion, “This case involves a sexual predator who happened to be employed, most unfortunately, as an Oklahoma City police officer.”
The case grabbed national headlines after 13 Oklahoma City women accused Daniel Holtzclaw, 32, of sexual attacks while on duty for the police department.
In August 2014, the state charged Holtzclaw with 36 felony counts of rape, sexual battery, indecent exposure, and forcible oral sodomy after the 13 women came forward, claiming the officer assaulted them while they were in custody or inside his police car.
In 2015, a jury convicted Holtzclaw of 18 felony charges involving eight of the 13 accusers.
His defense team ultimately filed an appeal, challenging the evidence used in the case and the “circus atmosphere” surrounding the trial. Daniel's team said the DNA evidence used in the case could have gotten on his clothes through non-sexual contact.
The Supreme Court's response is due February 5, 2020.
