JUAN M. RAYFORD, SR. 1516 N. FRANKLIN AVENUE BONHAM, TEXAS 75418 Phone: 757.389.3494 Email: juanrayford@yahoo.com June 11, 2014
First Class Mail The Honorable Eric H. Holder, Jr. Attorney General U.S. Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20530 Dear Attorney General Holder: My name is Juan Rayford and I am writing you on behalf of my son. My son is serving a 220 year 11-life sentences term. I know that you are very busy and your time is important so I will be brief but thorough. My son, Juan Rayford Jr., was 17 years old with no prior record living in Palmdale, California. He was accused of and charged with shooting a gun in an occupied dwelling where there were 11 people. He was not the only one accused. No one was killed, no one was shot in the alleged crime, and no one even received medical treatment. Yet, he was placed on an 11 million dollar bond and sentenced to 220 years and 11 life sentences, and was incarcerated January 4, 2004. The only witnesses for the prosecution were the owner of the house and her 15 year old daughter. The mother and the daughter gave statements to the police the night the incident occurred, which stated that Juan Jr. was there, but he was not one of the shooters. At the trial their statements changed, and Juan Jr. had a court appointed attorney who called no witnesses on his behalf. Ten years later, Juan’s current attorney, Annee Della Donna, Esq. (SBN 138420), spoke with the daughter whom would like to tell the truth but is afraid of going to jail for perjury. Annee Della Donna petitioned the court for immunity for her testimony but was informed that immunity would not be granted. I believe in my son’s total innocence. I am not denying the fact that he was with the wrong crowd. However, I feel to take my son’s entire life from his family at 17 is excessive punishment. The 8th Amendment of our Constitution speaks of excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment. I truly believe that an 18 year old (at the time of sentencing) with no prior record accused of shooting in an occupied dwelling where no lives were lost or even medical treatment rendered should not have been placed on an 11 million dollar bond and then been
given 220 years and 11 life sentences. Our judicial system has erred in his case, and my son has fallen through the cracks. Juan Jr. was 17 when this travesty of justice began. He will be 28 on August 10th. Presently there is a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus before the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles. The case number is MA028053. The Law Offices of Anne Della Donna, 620 Newport Center Drive Suite 1100, Newport Beach, California 92660: Phone: (949.200.4630) / Fax: (949.497.5627) delladonnalaw@cox.net, currently have a writ before the Superior Court stating that Juan Jr.’s imprisonment is in violation of his constitutional right as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, Article I, section 1,7,15,16, and 17 of the California Constitution. I respectfully and prayerfully ask that you look into his case. His case and case number are: People of the State of California v. Juan M Rayford (Superior Court No. MA028053 Los Angeles County).
Respectfully Submitted,
Juan M. Rayford Sr.