FREE MATTHEW DORSEY
Matthew Dorsey is a Texan who was given a wrongful excessive Life sentence for Aggravated Assault of a Public Servant.
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The cop was not touched and in no way harmed. The State Trooper testified that Matthew was not trying to run him over.
We have exhausted all appeals that have been ignored by Smith County and the Court of Criminal Appeals. Matthew is now on his 19th year in Texas TDCJ prison.
We need YOU to help Matthew receive justice,
once and for all!
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Letter to Governor Greg Abbott
Dear Governor Abbott,
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I am writing to bring to your attention the case of Matthew Dorsey a Texan who has been incarcerated for 19 years serving a life sentence for aggravated assault of a public servant a conviction that many including advocacy groups like pathways to freedom believed to be a profound miscarriage of justice.
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In 2006 Mr. Dorsey was involved in an incident where notably no individuals were harmed. The state trooper involved testified that Mr. Dorsey was not attempting to cause harm. Despite the non-violent nature of the incident. Mr. Dorsey received a life sentence, a punishment that appears disproportionately severe especially when compared to sentences for more grievous offenses.
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All appeals on Mr. Dorsey’s behalf have been exhausted without success. Concerns have been raised regarding the effectiveness of his appellate representation, particularly the failure to adequately challenge the severity of his sentence or preserve critical issues for appeal. This has resulted in Mr. Dorsey's prolonged incarceration for a nonviolent offense highlighting significant flaws in the legal process.
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Given these circumstances I respectfully urge you to consider commuting Dorsey sentence or granting him clemency. His continued imprisonment not only seems unjust but also represents a misallocation of taxpayer resources, especially when contrasted with sentences for more severe crimes such as second-degree murder or manslaughter, which often result in lesser penalties.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I trust that upon reviewing the details of Mr. Dorsey’s case you will recognize the need for corrective action to uphold the principles of justice and fairness that our state holds dear.
Sincerely, Monika Shepherd
Sent to Governor Abbott on 2/4/25
Message From Matthew: I would like to say "Thank you!", to all of you who are involved in the movement for criminal justice reform and the organizations who are trying to shine a light on the many injustices created by our flawed judicial system. Collectively we can save the lives of many broken families by taking action and speaking out about sentencing disparities that have been created by malicious prosecutors and judges. Once incarcerated, we no longer have a voice or a platform to speak out and be heard by the public so all we can count on is a prayer. We all pray that our society will have the compassion and consideration to fight for those of us who can't fight for ourselves. There are currently no legitimate or effective laws or systems in place to remedy the injustices that exist. We need all of you to speak out against the immorality that has flourished through the last several decades of the " tough on crime" era. The lack of oversight and the unlimited discretion enjoyed by judges and DA's is too much power for one man or woman to wield when there is no easy way to fix their mistakes when they get it wrong. This problem and the lack of a solution has damaged the lives of many prisoners and their families. All crime should be punished as a deterrent to future behavior, but prison sentences should be scrutinized and looked at by a panel of judges to make sure it correlates to the crime that was committed. We pray for justice, mercy, and forgiveness, as well as a second chance to prove to our families and to society that we are capable of genuine change.
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Pathways to Freedom has criticized the performance of Matthew's appeal attorney, arguing that the lawyer failed to challenge the severity of the sentence effectively or preserve key issues for appeal. The group contends that this oversight has resulted in Matthew's prolonged incarceration for a non-violent offense, highlighting a significant flaw in the legal process. "The life sentence for Matthew Dorsey, given the circumstances, is a gross miscarriage of justice. No one was injured, yet he faces the harshest penalty possible," an advocate at Pathways to Freedom stated.
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Pathways to Freedom is actively advocating for Matthew's release, calling on the state to commute his sentence or grant him clemency. The group argues that his continued imprisonment is not only unjust but also a waste of taxpayer resources, particularly when compared to sentences for more severe crimes, such as second-degree murder or manslaughter, which often result in lesser penalties. The advocacy group has organized various efforts to support Matthew, including petitions, rallies, and engaging with the public to highlight the injustice of his sentence. They urge the public to join their efforts in seeking justice for Matthew and reform in the criminal justice system.
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