New York Detainee's Golf Drawings Lead to Exemption From Murder

Author's right of the image
Georgetown University

An American convict whose talent for art drew the attention of a prison warden, eventually leading to a review of his case, was exonerated from murder.

The sharp pencil drawings of Valentino Dixon's golf courses were featured in Golf Digest, which reporters found the evidence in his case seemed wrong.

Dixon, 48, had maintained his innocence for 27 years behind bars for a shootout in Buffalo, New York.

He walked freely after another man officially confessed to the murder.

Golf drawings

Dixon had served nearly two decades in a notorious prison in upstate New York when his artistic flair caught the attention of correctional authorities.

The director gave him a photo of the famous Augusta National's 12th hole in the state of Georgia and asked him if he would draw it for him.

Author's right of the image
Golf Digest

"After 19 years spent at the Attic Correctional Center, the appearance of a golf hole spoke to me," Mr. Dixon said.

"It seemed peaceful, I imagine that playing it would look a lot like fishing."

With the help of colored pencils, he began to create meticulous and lush drawings of various links and fairways.

"I did not know anything about golf, I'm in the hood," he told local media.

Author's right of the image
Golf Digest

His sketches impressed the editors of Golf Digest, who presented his work and the profile of the prisoner in 2012.

"Maybe one day I will be able to play the game I imagined," Dixon said in the article, describing how he drew landscapes that he did not have. Had never seen.

The magazine's cover prompted defenders of wrongful convictions to look into the issue. Law students at Georgetown University defended his case.

Sentence

Dixon was sentenced to a minimum of 38 years for killing 17-year-old Torriano Jackson on a night in August 1991 after a dispute over a girl.

He admitted being at the scene of the crime, but said that he was at a nearby store buying beer when the gunshots rang out.

Mr. Dixon stated that several witnesses could have testified that he had not fired the shot.

But his trial lawyer did not call any of them, several accused of perjury.

In unusual ways, the investigating inspector did not testify during the trial either.

But Georgetown University's Prisons and Justice initiative has revealed a more serious flaw.

Prosecutors had failed to disclose to Mr. Dixon's defense attorney that a powder test on his client's clothing had been negative.

The real killer

Perhaps more, another man, Lamarr Scott, admitted in the local media only a few days after the murder that he had shot Torriano Jackson.

Scott told a WGRZ-TV reporter: "I do not want my friend [Mr Dixon] take rap for something i did. "

Author's right of the image
Georgetown University

But he has never been arrested. The victim's brother said he saw Mr. Dixon open fire.

According to the Buffalo News, prosecutors acknowledged that Scott had admitted his guilt for a long time.

"Mr. Scott has confessed to this crime since August 12, 1991," Deputy Attorney Sara Dee told the court.

"He confessed more than 10 times that crime."

Exoneration

Lamarr Scott – who is currently in prison for a separate attack – finally had the chance to officially confess this crime on Wednesday.

A few hours later, Mr. Dixon was released.

"I caught the gun," said Scott, now 46, in the Erie hearing room in New York.

"I pulled the trigger and all the bullets came out … Unfortunately, Torriano ended up dying."

It's Erie's District Attorney, John Flynn – who held this position less than a year – who ordered a review of the case.

But despite Mr Dixon's exemption, prosecutors say he's provided the weapon of the crime, which they described as a submachine gun.

They also stated that he was a "fashionable drug trafficker" in Buffalo at the time of his arrest.

"Mr. Dixon is innocent of the shooting and murder for which he was convicted, but Mr. Dixon brought the weapon to the fight," said the prosecutor.

Which suite for Valentino Dixon?

"It's the greatest feeling in the world," he said as he walked Wednesday in front of a free man from Buffalo, New York.

He was greeted outside by his daughter, who was a baby when he was imprisoned.

The 27-year-old brought her own 14-month-old twins.

Mr. Dixon says that he hopes to continue his illustrations and even visit a golf course in real life.

"With his body and mind intact, Dixon hopes to have good years ahead," Golf Digest wrote Wednesday.

"Maybe he's gonna play golf."