The Exoneration of Thomas Shafer

Jeffrey Deskovic (left) and Thomas Shafer (right) at Binghamton City Hall

Deskovic Foundation client Thomas Shafer was originally convicted of  Fourth Degree Grand Larceny, a felony, for stealing three pieces of jewelry in Johnson City, New York. He pled guilty, and was sentenced to serve five years of probation in 2012. The Deskovic Foundation, in collaboration with a local law firm, found new evidence that proved that the most valuable piece of jewelry Thomas had been accused of stealing was in fact, not stolen, and thus the grand felony charge could not be supported. As a result, Thomas was exonerated and the original charges against him were dismissed in Binghamton City Court on September 17, 2024. Thomas is now married with a child, and works at an engineering firm. The wrongful conviction had previously prevented him from obtaining a land surveyor's license and voting.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

A detailed account of Thomas Shafer case can be found in local reporting from Binghamton:
https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/top-stories/grand-larceny-felon-dismissed-of-all-charges-in-binghamton/