On Monday, a former Texas prosecutor was disbarred for making false statements and deliberately advocating erroneous testimony that almost landed an innocent man in the electric chair.
Charles Sebesta was disbarred for his conduct in the conviction of Anthony Graves, who spent 18 years in prison on charges of setting a fire that killed six people before being freed when testimony from the person who actually committed the crime exonerated Graves of all charges.
Before Graves’ attorney could present a witness to support his client’s alibi that he was not involved in the arson, Sebesta derailed the testimony by falsely stating in court that he was a suspect in the murders and could be indicted. The witness fled the courtroom before he could testify.
Graves’ conviction was reversed in 2006 and he was remanded for a new trial. In 2010, a special prosecutor was assigned to the case and found there was no credible evidence that Graves was involved in the murders and Graves was then released.
