John,
I immigrated to the United States from Cuba in 1980 and just two years later, I was wrongly arrested in Florida for attempted sexual assault and burglary.
At the time of my trial, I only spoke Spanish, and I was unable to navigate the complicated legal system. My legal team let me down, and I ended up being sentenced to 50 years in prison for a crime I didn’t commit. So the day I arrived at the maximum security prison, I had one goal and that was to leave. Thankfully, the Innocence Project took on my case, and I was finally freed and exonerated by DNA evidence in 2006.
Orlando Boquete at the 2022 Innocence Network Conference in Phoenix, AZ. (Image: Kenny Karpov/Innocence Project)
Since getting out of prison, I’m focused on helping others. I want to get our young people on a positive path. I want to use my story to do beautiful things — and that’s why I’m so honored to be part of the Innocence Project’s Speakers Bureau, and I’d like to come and share my story with you.
If you, your company, or your school are planning events for Latinx Heritage Month and beyond, consider booking me or another speaker from the Innocence Project to share our stories and talk about how we can work together to build a more just criminal legal system.
I hope we'll hear from you soon!
Orlando Boquete
Exonerated in 2006
Innocence Project |
