James Prindle has been wrongfully convicted of crimes so terrible, he has to watch his back constantly and
literally could get him killed. James was accused and convicted of raping his baby sister. James didn't do
it, but to ensure nothing happens, he has to maintain a constant vigil 24/7, and basically keep one eye
open all the time for safety sake. James is in fear of also being jumped, and, or since he is of small
physical stature, have personal items stolen from him and be unable to offer up much resistance.
James Prindle was recently convicted by a jury and was sentenced to 22 years in prison, and will be
saddled with the sex offenders label which will likely deprive him of housing, employment, freedom of
movement etc. This seems rather harsh for a recently turned 17 year-old, who has maintained his innocence
since day one, and has not waivered in that.
The prosecutors did not present one shred of physical evidence connecting James to the crime. Everything
presented was circumstantial, with mainly second and third hand testimony being given. James did lie to
the cops in the beginning, but that lie was instigated by another one of the kids there that night. James
only went along with it, because he was afraid his mom would find out, that he had friends over, when he
was forbidden too, plus also leaving the house. Two of the other boys there that night, were known bullies
and most of the kids were afraid of them. James quickly started telling the truth, but the police
investigators refused to believe anything he said. James alibi and other individuals have never been
looked into by any of the police investigators and prosecutors.
There were several other kids there that night, with the lack of a real investigation, the more likely
suspects, were never really considered as the culprits.
On August 16, 2010, James was left alone babysitting his younger brother sister (Hunter 4, and Neily Shay
23 months), while his mother worked her job as a Convenience Store Clerk. This was nothing unusual, as it
was something James had done several times a week, several hundred times before. While babysitting, James was forbidden to have company come over. But on this particular day, James called a friend to come over and play X-Box, so the two played the game for awhile and his friend left. Afterwards James wanted some rest, so he put his sister in his mother's bedroom on the bed to sleep, after which James laid down on
the couch to rest, and told his little brother Hunter, that as soon as he wakes up, he will fix dinner
for everyone. James was not resting long, when Noah (a boy James wanted to stay away from and stated was "too much trouble") came over. James had no intention of answering the door, but his little brother ran
over and opened the drapes, so Noah knew they were at home. James tried to reason with Noah, but would
not take no for an answer, so James let him in. (In a previous incident that happened about 2 weeks prior
James did not answer the door when Noah came over, Noah broke his mother's bedroom window, and went in).
Soon after, Noah's brother Micah came over, in which the situation quickly spiraled out of control, when
the two brothers arranged for some of their friends to come over (Over James Objections) for a drug
transaction. At one point there were at least eight others in the apartment besides James and his younger
siblings.
James was a good kid, who didn't know how to say no forcefully, and was usually ignored by the brazen duo when they came over. In the course of the drug transaction, James says he traded his X-Box for a handgun, to impress the kids there. However, in the confusion of the scene, as the other kids left, the gun and
some money went missing and James and Noah ran across the street to retrieve them. Before he left the
apartment, James asked Adam to watch his brother asnd sister, who agreed to do so. When James and Noah returned empty-handed to the apartment about 15 minutes later, James brother and sister were both alone, with the door wide-open, Adam, nowhere to be seen.
While James attended to his brother, Noah checked on James 2 year-old sister. Noah said her mouth was
bleeding. At that point, James went in and looked at her, and to James, it looked like she had bit her
tongue. James asked Noah, to put her in the bath to calm her, while he looked after Hunter. She wasn't in
the water for just a couple of seconds, as she was crying, then started crying hysterically. When James
heard the commotion he ran back, got his sister out of the tub, and noticed her vagina bleeding. He was
shocked, and started crying, practically hysterical himself. He put her diaper on, wrapped her in a sheet,
and told Noah he was going to call for help. At that point, Noah realized they were in trouble, so he
fathered a lie, to claim that what happened had been committed by an unknown intruder. Unfortunately,
James went along with this lie, as he was deathly afraid his mom would be mad for having company over,
and for leaving the house. James ran upstairs, and knocked on doors, trying to get help, and no one
answered. Then he ran downstairs, frantically trying to get help, knocking on all the neighbors doors,
but no one came. At that time, a neighbor pulled up in his car, and James ran over to him, asking his
neighbor to call his mom, and get help as something had happened to his little sister. At that point the
neighbor called 911.
When the police arrived, he attempted to question James, but was hysterical, and he proceeded to talk to Noah.
Later all 3 boys (James, Noah and Micah) were taken in for further questioning. James mother was in the
room while he was being questioned, but James would not tell the truth in front of her, as he was still
scared and didn't want her to be mad at him for disobeying her, and leaving the house. With that, the
damage was done. When she left the room, and James was questioned alone, by the officers, he told the
truth but, the police wouldn't believe him, and all the blame fell onto James. The officers told him they
didn't believe him, he wasn't making any sense, and they've already thrown away the key, and he was going
away for life. He was scared, nervous and was sent to Juvenile Hall, where he spent the next 2 months
awaiting what was to come.
If the police and investigators had done they're job and investigated thew leads and alibis that James
gave, they would have found the more reasonable suspects, that actually committed the act.
James was never in any trouble with the law, and was a good kid. He had babysat his younger brother and or sister several hundred times previous to this, without incident.
Noah and Micah had been arrested several times prior to this, including assault charges. There is also evidence online, that these two boys were involved in sex trafficking.
In James waiver hearings held on October 20 and 21st of 2010, before Juvenile Court Magestrate Judge Herbert Lane, these questions were raised, yet never looked into: Adam Matthews lied. His original statement given to the police, was different than the testimony he gave on the stand. Also when questioned, why is it when asked about Neily Shay, he admits putting covers over her, and then gets panicy on the stand, starts crying, and his face turns beet red? Plus when Adam is at James apartment, some guy walks in and says "Oops, wrong door." His statements in the Juvenile hearings were much different than the ones he made during James adult trial, where he admitted he was left alone in the apartment with James younger brother and sister.
Montrell Baldwin makes conflicting statements as well. Plus an attorney stated that and I quote " I don't think Mr. Baldwin could corraborate his own statement, and I think he could argue with himself in the mirror as what ID was."
Two of the kids who testified that James Grandmother was not there at the apartment when she testified to her being there.
James little brother Hunter, testified that James never hurt him or Neily Shay. Hunter's testimony was disqualified by Judge Lane.
Judge Lane stated there was no DNA evidence linking James to the crime. He also stated "Everybody wants to see somebody brought to justice because of it."
These are statements made by James after his waiver into adult court, and subsequent transfer to Jail East. "To be charged with rape and abusing my little sister, is worse than death to me. I always hated people who could do something like that to another person. To be accused of it, it's like being worse than a murderer. To have my mom believe it, it's ten times worse. I would never hurt my little brother or sister....ever!"
Also this statement. "My mom was always there for me every time before. On occasion, she would run interference for me, so I could get out a window, and run away, so I wouldn't get beat with a belt or boots. Now my mom hates me. I cannot begin to tell you how that feels inside." Do the above two statements sound like they are from a guilty person? No.
During James adult trial, no evidence was presenting linking James to have committed the crime, no DNA, everything was strictly circumstantial, yet, a jury convicted him. Judge Carter sentenced him to 22 years in prison. With the time that he has already served, he will still have to serve 20 years, and it will be day-for-day, with no parole.
This case is now in the appeal process. But, James needs a new trial. The Wrongful Conviction needs to be overturned, and a new trial awarded, where everything can be presented that was not, and should have been. That is the only way, all the wrongs that happened in James Prindle's case, can be righted.
There are far too many questions here, left to be answered. There is one surety though, James is
Not Guilty!
Someone out there knows the truth. I am asking those individuals, who know the truth, to please contact me. Do the right thing, and give an innocent kid back his life, and freedom.
my email address
Thank You.
