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Sacramento Bee investigative news article on the case of Quinton Watts 
"California courts railroaded a black bus driver; Newsom should free him." - Sacramento Bee Editorial 2020
Quinton Watts was behind the wheel of a bus when it crashed in 2008, killing 11 passengers on their way to a casino in Colusa County, California. After the crash, prosecutors portrayed Watts as an irresponsible bus driver whose carelessness resulted in death.
In reality, the preliminary investigation had clearly established that Watts suffered from a seizure disorder which explains why he blacked out. A Stockton physician’s assistant was later disciplined by the Medical Board for not informing Watts of his condition and clearing him to drive in spite of it. Neither District Attorney, nor Watts’ defense brought this to the attention of the jury. With no alternative explanation for his loss of consciousness, it was not difficult to convince the all White jury that sleep was the cause of the crash (hence the gross negligence and the long sentence). Watts suffered similar unexplained black-outs later while in prison, confirming what should have been central at the trial.
The transcript of the case shows a constant string of obvious questions not asked, false conclusions allowed to stand, contradictions and probable perjury left unchallenged. There is a growing recognition that the justice system often fails minority populations. This is a case study in the subtle and not so subtle ways in which this can occur.
Quinton Watts has served 11 of his 26 year sentence, working as a medical custodian on the prison hospital. Following a Sacramento Bee investigative news article, Watts was given a re-sentencing hearing which resulted in the recent announcement that Watts will be released from prison on February 3, 2021. For the sake of full disclosure, my dad Edric Cane brought the case to the Bee’s attention about a year ago and contributed his thorough knowledge of the documentation to the Bee’s long investigation.
We are raising funds to help Quinton Watts rebuild a life for himself outside of prison. In addition to the ordinary daily expenses of housing, food and transportation, there will also be legal fees to advocate for Quinton to be compensated for being falsely condemned.
As Watts will never forget, nothing can bring back the 11 Hmong and Iu Mien people who died in the bus crash in 2008 - but justice has not been served by failing to give Quinton Watts a fair trial.
"California courts railroaded a black bus driver; Newsom should free him." - Sacramento Bee Editorial 2020
Quinton Watts was behind the wheel of a bus when it crashed in 2008, killing 11 passengers on their way to a casino in Colusa County, California. After the crash, prosecutors portrayed Watts as an irresponsible bus driver whose carelessness resulted in death.
In reality, the preliminary investigation had clearly established that Watts suffered from a seizure disorder which explains why he blacked out. A Stockton physician’s assistant was later disciplined by the Medical Board for not informing Watts of his condition and clearing him to drive in spite of it. Neither District Attorney, nor Watts’ defense brought this to the attention of the jury. With no alternative explanation for his loss of consciousness, it was not difficult to convince the all White jury that sleep was the cause of the crash (hence the gross negligence and the long sentence). Watts suffered similar unexplained black-outs later while in prison, confirming what should have been central at the trial.
The transcript of the case shows a constant string of obvious questions not asked, false conclusions allowed to stand, contradictions and probable perjury left unchallenged. There is a growing recognition that the justice system often fails minority populations. This is a case study in the subtle and not so subtle ways in which this can occur.
Quinton Watts has served 11 of his 26 year sentence, working as a medical custodian on the prison hospital. Following a Sacramento Bee investigative news article, Watts was given a re-sentencing hearing which resulted in the recent announcement that Watts will be released from prison on February 3, 2021. For the sake of full disclosure, my dad Edric Cane brought the case to the Bee’s attention about a year ago and contributed his thorough knowledge of the documentation to the Bee’s long investigation.
We are raising funds to help Quinton Watts rebuild a life for himself outside of prison. In addition to the ordinary daily expenses of housing, food and transportation, there will also be legal fees to advocate for Quinton to be compensated for being falsely condemned.
As Watts will never forget, nothing can bring back the 11 Hmong and Iu Mien people who died in the bus crash in 2008 - but justice has not been served by failing to give Quinton Watts a fair trial.
Organizer
Maureen Cane
Organizer
Berkeley, CA