My thoughts and prayers are with you.  God has brought you this far he won't let you go now. Stay Stong.

I missed the last few minutes......I gather he was released, but on what grounds?  What a sad, sad case and very scary, as others have said 'it could be you'.

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The Associated Press
Former death row inmate Spann wins parole, plans move to Conn.

By Meg Kinnard, Associated Press Writer  |  May 3, 2006

COLUMBIA, S.C. --Former death row inmate Sterling Spann plans to move to Connecticut after winning parole Wednesday when the Probation, Parole and Pardon Services board voted 5-1 to release him.
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Spann, 43, had spent 17 years on death row before he won a new trial on the charges involving the 1981 death of Melva Niell, 81, of Clover.

He was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison after entering a plea in 2002 that did not admit guilt, but conceded there was enough evidence that a jury might convict him.

The parole board voted against releasing him unanimously in 2004 and on a 3-3 vote in 2005.

Spann plans to move to Connecticut, where his attorney Lionel S. Lofton said a job is waiting for him. A couple from Monroe, Conn., saw Spann's story on NBC's "Dateline" several years ago and have become his benefactors, Lofton said.

The couple has no connection to Spann or to South Carolina. They own a string of tire stores across the country and "have adopted Sterling and his entire family," Lofton said.

"They have been working very hard to help Sterling and see that he's got good legal representation and make sure that he had a place to live and a job to go to," Lofton said.

The outpouring of support was unprecedented in Lofton's 30 years of practicing law. "It's really heartwarming to see that there are people like that in this country," he said.

Spann is currently at the Broad River Correctional Institution. Because his release to Connecticut must be approved by both that state and South Carolina, it could take up to 45 days before Spann is freed, said Pete O'Boyle, spokesman for Probation, Parole and Pardon Services.

Prosecutor Tommy Pope promised in Spann's plea deal to take no position on parole other than a letter stating Spann should serve the entire sentence. He did not immediately return calls from The Associated Press.

Lofton said Spann's good behavior while he was out on bond in 2002 might have helped his case for parole this time around.

"He had a track record for them to see that he hadn't done anything wrong" while out on parole, Lofton said. "Sterling's record since he's been back in prison has been exemplary."

Does anyone think this show could have been done in a hour? Fell asleep at the end it took so long.  

To everyone wondering what happened to Mr. Spann.  A loving couple from Conn. adopted him and his family.  He won his parole hearing as of sometime in May.  He plans to move to Conn. but is currently awaiting his release.  The move to Conn. has to be approved by both states.  If you would like to read more about Mr. Spann go to google.com and type in his name there's a story on him.

he won is parole in may 06

I'm so sick & fed up with the Bodunk Towns and a it's
sad still a Black man,to be drag through what he did.My heart goes to you on the loss of your Momma& Sister.I hope your restitution is enough for you&wife
to do you were robbed of,if not take it to a higher court and it YOU deserve it.TO the BLONDE woman you are why we have jokes (about the swabs vag. To Be Laughing) What are you doing working in any Lawyers office.

I am a true believer in what goes arounds comes around.  In due time the guilty ones will surely pay. I feel so angry when this kind of injustice is still being put upon the black man and televised in a documentary to show the world how law officials can frame a  black man, and get away with it.

Since we are not supernatural, we will never know how some of these liars will meet their fate, but as sure as there is a God in Heaven, I know it will not be all good.

What plea did Mr. Spann take?  Did he give in to the plea after his sister was killed?  What happened, I missed what happened between 8:45 & 8:55, I saw the ending where he was out, and I am glad he is now free as he should have been all along.

I missed the last 2 minutes.  What happened?

Watched the whole broadcast but my son switched channels for the lineup of the basketball finals.  I saw that he said he was guilty because he was afraid of what the verdict could be and then when I switched back was when he was working and outof jail.  Please, please tell me when he was released and how it came about.  It is very scary to think this can and does happen.  Wish it could be different.

it would beinteresting to learn of the ideaology of the prosecutor and his family anchestrry. who they really are?  That should be a investergator theme.  The background and anchestry of law enforcement . What is the criteria for screning indivisual who apply for this type of positions?

HE PLEAD GUILTY!!!!!

HE PLED GUILTY

I would not admit to this crime If I was not guilty. I would rather die with my self respect than to have people believe that I did this. I found myself believing that he was inocient as many of you did and took his side through the show.However when He pled guilty he is guilty and should be put to death.  

I LIVED IN CLOVER FROM 2000 TILL 2003.  I NEVER HEARD THIS STORY.  SCARY..

A very uncharacteristic story by Dateline. I assumed they would have something to show that Spann was not guilty. Instead, there was more evidence. What did the guy do, just drive by the woman's house and say "hey, I need to go touch her window". No one offered any explanation as to how his fingerprint got on her window. I didn't see anything to show that all three murders were related- If I were a family member of the woman who was murdered, I would feel angry at Dateline for their pro Spann slant on the story!!

He did not plead guilty. Did the few of you who are claiming this not hear them clearly say that he accepted a plea bargain that DID NOT include an admission of guilt?? That was one of the main reasons why he accepted that particular plea bargain.

Someone also posted a news article stating the same information when he was released on parole a year ago.

I like how NBC screens these posts! And all the posts are coming up pro-murderer and supporting their ridicilous story...imagine that! He was convicted TWICE. He pled GUILTY! And if he isn't guilty he has the worst luck of all time! He just happened to know both victims. He just happened to have personal items from both victims on him and even if you dismiss the tie pin he still had the other woman's gold coin on him and that fact isn't disputed. His finger prints just happened to be on papers at the scene of the crime as well on a window frame INSIDE the house(a person who mows someone's lawn doesn't leave finger prints on the INSIDE of a person's bedroom window!). Both the homeless and imbalanced red-headed man "Cool Breeze" and the psychopathic murder just happened to change their stories multiple times! DNA EVIDENCE, from one of the victims' vaginas, JUST HAPPENED TO EXCLUDE BOTH OF THE OTHER SUSPECTS BUT COULD NOT EXCLUDE HIM!!! There just happened to be a spot of blood outside the window where the murder took place that did not match the victim or the other 2 suspects but just happened to MATCH his! And afterall he just plead guilty because he was so upset about his sister's death..WHAT? Innocent men do not plead guilty because their sister dies! Way to go NBC! But here are the facts that will not be disputed...he is a twice convicted felon, he pled guilty, and he is a murderer!
Bash the south all you want and run you liberal anti-death penalty mouths all you want but these things will still be true and as far as him bringing a lawsuit against the state...HE PLED GUILTY! It would be awfully hard to win a lawsuit against a state after pleading guilty to the murder that they charged you with.

He is a strong person that has lost alot and came through strong. I am glad the there were people out there to help him. Thats all he needed.

I'm not suprised this happened because it is all happening AGAIN in Clover because of York County's investigation and Tommy Pope's prosecuting tactics. In "The State vs. Berry Bolin". A 20 year old man is now serving 30 years for something he was wrongfully convicted of because of Tommy Pope and York County.
IF ANYONE CAN HELP US PLEASE CONTACT ME AT XXSOCCERGIRL03XX@YAHOO.COM
thanks

NO SP! He stood up in court and said I withdrawal my plea of not-guilty and enter a plea of guilty. The deal only said he would not have to public admit to it other than when he entered the plea. That is just like pleading no-contest. No-contest goes down as a guilty plea!

People need to be clear about Sterling's guilty plea... what it was and why he made it.

Why? 1)He was afraid he would get the death penalty and be executed like a buddy of his had just been.
2)He lost faith in the judicial system (who can blame him?!)
3)His sister,tired after a shift, got killed while running a red light. This loss/grief demoralized him.

What was his plea? I quote

"He was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison after entering a plea in 2002 that did not admit guilt, but conceded there was enough evidence that a jury might convict him."

To those who still think he's guilty... the verdict by the jury here is like 95 to 5... plus there's the Supreme Court's almost unprecedented ruling, so you'd better go over the evidence/lack of same with an UNBIASED mind.

I missed the last 5 minutes. Can anyone tell me how he was completely cleared.  Thank you.  

Mr. Spann my heart goes out to you for all that has quite literally been stolen from you. I pray that the future that you and your family will have is showered beyond measure with the love, grace mercy and blessings of the Lord. You deserve it. I pity those who turned there heads to evidence in your case when there day of judgement comes.

Mr.Sterling I just want you to know that you made it, with you mother, sister and god himself looking over you. The sad part about it is that in south carolina and the south as a hole, in that day and time it has always and will be "THE BLACK MAN OR THE "N" AS THEY SAY."

I agree with Patti from Clover. I know the case that she is talking about, and YCSD made more mistakes than a 5 year old.Berry should not be in jail. I can see how the cops could have messed up his case to.

I still haven't heard who did it.  He took the guilty plea thinking he would be out with time served.
I still don't know who killed the women.  Gods Blessings to all the women and their families.
Please finish the story.  I know he is out and working, Thank God, but what about the rest of the story.

Hopefully one day our legal system will truly be color blind and the supposition of innoncent until found guilty beyond reasonable doubt will not just be words but the TRUTH!!!!!!!! FOR EVERYONE.

YCSD has a rep. for stretching the truth or making it up if they need to, just to get a conviction. They done it with him and they done it with Berry, and I've heard they done it to a lot of other people in York County.

If you think this case is full of lies and scandles. You need to do a story on Berry Bolin. Tommy Pope prosicuted this case personally right before he retired. If you ask me the only reason he prosicuted this case himself was because it made the news and the state didn't have any evidence against Berry. It was a fluke that he got convicted.

EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T GET TO SEE THE WHOLE STORY, I KNEW HE WAS NOT GUILTY AND TRUE IT IS AN OUTRAGE IN THIS DAY AND TIME WHEN THERE ARE STILL SOME STUPID PEOPLE LEFT ON EARTH. I COULDN'T WATCH THE WHOLE PROGRAM FOR ME GETTING MAD AND WANTING TO THROW SOMETHING AT THE TELEVISION. I JUST WISH PEOPLE WOULD FACE REALITY AND LET GO OF THE RACISM BECAUSE NO ONE MAN IS BETTER THAN ANOTHER.

To PV from MI the reason you have not heard who did it is because York County had got their conviction the first time and when he got off they botched the original investigation and had nothing to go on. The same thing happened in the Bolin case from what I hear. I think York County is not capable of investigating a case properly. I kept up with the Bolin case as much as I could and YC messed it up as bad as this case. I found a myspace for Berry Bolin, the name of it is (Berry Bolin was wongfully convicted). It tells a lot about his case and him

Hay americans, THIS COULD BE YOU, YOUR CHILDREN OR YOUR BROTHER.  

SHAME on all those whom kept him in jail for SOOO many years, the state should awarn hime $one million per year for wrongful imprisionment and that does not replace what they have taken from that man.

It is a real shame it took sooo much to have the judges and those involved to simply do the right thing.

When are YOU PEOPLE going to stand together and act line ONE!

THIS COULD BE YOU NEXT AND IN ANY STATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok I belive him. So who did ?

I guess those who think he's guilty didn't hear what the Alabama state prosecutor said?

Sterling's blood was NOT found in the house. The killer did NOT enter through the window. Sterling had worked for the woman, including on the windows, just a month before. The blood drop on the step was Type O. This proves nothing as this is the most common blood type.

Also, there's no evidence he had the tie pin on him. It was NOT listed as one of the items on him.

Etc, etc. Too many other points to mention!

Common sense alone tells us he didn't do it. Remember what the FBI profilers said about sadistic serial killers.

Ok I belive him. So who did ?

I guess I think law enforcement should be subject to the law itself for losing important evidence--there is simply no excuse for this.  It's as criminal as what Sterling had been accused of.  Because of ineptitude, not only has Mr. Spann and his family suffered, but especially the family of that poor sweet woman, who will never get to know what really happened...whether we think he was innocent or not, the mishandling of the crime scene and of evidence is an equal crime and should be so punished.

IF he was innocent, why did he plead guilty--so he could be paroled? I am sure I missed something?

My heart goes out to Mr. Spann. He is the true victim of the unconscionable court system and Racism. To all those involved in giving him the death sentence; you did take his life away, and I hope you get your just rewards. Mr. Spann was forced to lie to save his life after learning the reality of justice. And why??? Because the responsible people are in positions of enabling this injustice. I'm glad you now have help and wish you the best for your future. I think you are a very good person... far better than those who passed judgement.

Tommy Pope and York County  did the same thing with the case of Berry Bolin in Clover s,c, The mistakes that were made in the investigation has him wrongfully convicted with 30 years .Please someone help him.Do not let this happen again.

Hi,
I enjoyed the show tonight. I attended high school with Sterling. I graduated the class of 1981.
Anyhow, I remember while I was in college I heard of his terrible news.
I could not believe it then.  It has always been in the back of my mind.
I remember him as a very nice person. I never personally believed he fit the crime.
I was channel surfacing and saw his face on your show tonight and began to watch.
It is so unfair.  I look back at my life and I have done so much since then and he has had to sit in jail.
Once again, thank you for reporting the good news. I am happy he can start a new and free life.

Sarah Shields(Class of 1981)
Sarah Shields Horton
Charleston, South Carolina
I

York County is known for their wrongful convictions.  This has happened also to Berry Bolin.  The investigation was nothing close to professional.  The tactics that York County used were unreal.  They didn't look at anything in depth.  Tommy Pope, the prosecuter on the case, was more interested in closing the case no matter if they had the right person or not, rather than taking the proper steps in the investigation to discover exactly what truly happened.  Berry was convicted of a crime that York County admitted that they could not prove.  This seems to have became a common trait in the judicial system of York County.  Just imagine....This could be someone that you love wrongfully convicted!

It's real hard to have ANY faith in the judicial system when accounts keep cropping up about people being wrongly convicted, being cleared by DNA, finding sloppy police/prosecutorial work, denying they ever make mistakes, denying new trials when new evidence comes up, etc. The stories of the men in Ada, OK. that Grisham is making more notable, and the court system adopting an "guilty til proven innocent" and "conviction at all cost" mentality is enough to make me sick. It is horrible that these innocent men should face time behind bars/on death row for crimes they didn't commit. Thank God for the TRUE detectives that actually have integrity and work for sometimes YEARS to clear people- also for the various Innocence Projects.

I was in tears when he mentioned his mother's passing, and that he couldn't go to the funeral, it just broke my heart. My heart goes out to you Mr. Spann....

Dear S.P. and the rest of you folks wanting to believe he didn't do it. Did you listen to the killer say the words "Guilty".  I did.  Maybe he was lying???

Hi,
I have been reading all of the comments on racism concerning this case.   When I was a young white girl in Charlotte, NC during the riots  and black and white violence, my parents moved me to Clover.

Clover when I was there was a nice friendly southern town without major crime problems or racist problems.  So this was extremely out of the ordinary and a rare cicumstance.

I new Sterling  and he was a victim and I never believed he was guilty.
Black and whites in my high school were friends.
I think he was a victim of the system and deserves something from the state for what happen to him.
I am so happy that he is free.
Dateline told it well.
Sadie, Clover

I can completly understand what Spann went through. I know first hand how bad the are in SC courts. I also pled no contest to a charge that i was not guilty of under presser from Tommy Popes office If I did not plea they threaten me with 30 yrs. My case was a civil case, and dismissed by the prosecutor. 1 year later I was arresseted in NC and back to SC carolina I was taken once again to York County. with no evidence they took a civil case that had never been to civil court turned it to crimmial and gave me 5 yrs. I was just released from SCDC may 1st of this year. My case is pending still in federal court after 1 year in a writ of Habeas corpus. I filled pro-say. I am home now, My heart goes to Spann we knew him in prison trust me when I tell you he and I are not the only ones in or out that the State if SC has grossly neglected the UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION in south carolina courts it is wide spreed through the dirty south known as south carolina.  

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