The Mississippi Justice Project Presents

The Don T. Bennett Story

A Speedy Trial?

Don T. Bennett is in Jail. He has been held in Canton, Mississippi, for a year. The natural question is, "What did he do?" The answer is, "Nothing!"

Don was suspected of armed robbery and was arrested and indicted but has never been tried and convicted. Another man was also suspected of the same crime and, when arrested, he confessed and was convicted. He is serving his time. The real perpetrator swore under oath, and on a notarized affidavit, that he alone committed the crimes in question and that Don Bennett had nothing to do with it. Witnesses and other evidence tied the real perpetrator to the crime scene but nothing connects Don T. Bennett to it. He was never identified by any witness and no fingerprints or other evidence points to him.

Everyone connected, even remotely, to the prosecution knows of Don's innocence but no one has done anything to get him out. Don was jailed and his bond set at $100,000 in June of 2002. He cannot pay the bond so he is still there. His Court Appointed lawyer has been to see him once (in May of 2003) to suggest that he plead guilty to a lesser offense but, otherwise, has offered no help.

The two sworn and notarized affidavits testifying to his innocence have been sent to the Judge, The District Attorney, The Attorney General and The Governor  but, no one has responded. The Court Appointed lawyer was offered the affidavits but was not interested  he said they would be "of no value at this time".

Don has a trial date sometime in November of 2003. He will have lost a year and a half of his life.

Again  "What did he do?" Again  "Nothing!".

Please Sign Don's Guest Book

...and leave a comment!

Provided and Maintained Courtesy of  the volunteers at

The Mississippi Justice Project

This page was last updated on: February 23, 2005