On April 10, 1998, Ted White, Jr. was charged with 13 felony criminal counts ranging from rape, child molestation, sodomy, and accused of “deviate sexual intercourse” with his12-year-old (step) daughter. In 1999, he was convicted in a Missouri courtroom by a prosecutor who withheld important exculpatory evidence, which would have proved Ted’s innocence! Ted then spent the next 5 years at the Missouri State Penitentiary, incarcerated at the infamous “Walls Prison” in Jefferson City, Missouri, which TIME Magazine called the “bloodiest 47 acres in America.” The prison was built in 1836, the same year that Andrew Jackson was President of the United States Davy Crockett died at the Alamo and Charles Darwin sailed his HMS Beagle around the world.
Because Ted White was absolutely 100% innocent he was now in the “fight of his life, to prove his innocence. He’d been set up by his ex-wife, Tina, and the investigating police detective. Tina and the detective became lovers during Ted’s trial and later married. The entire molestation allegations had been fabricated. Evidence was destroyed of the alleged child victim’s diary she had written at age 12, which mentioned nothing about any abuse, but rather, praised her dad, Ted, and derided the ex-wife, Tina, as an overbearing, insensitive mother who didn’t care about her. The former police detective later admitted to receiving $500,000 worth of stock that Ted was forced to forfeit as a convicted felon.
Imagine how Ted White endured those 5 long years in prison with some of America’s most dangerous criminals, while being classified as a rapist and a child sex offender. Imagine his anxiety through 3 criminal trials, not knowing if he would ever get justice. Imagine the horrific fear and pain Ted felt when he was violently attacked in prison, breaking bones in his face that required him to have reconstructive surgery. Imagine his humiliation, his indignity, his seething anger and the hopelessness in feeling there is no justice. Can you imagine being in his shoes, feeling accused, condemned and forgotten to the world!
Today, The Insider Exclusive is proud to present a story of injustice: “The Wrongful Conviction of Ted White Jr.,” along with Ted White himself, Dan Miller, the jury foreperson, and Cyndy Short and Matthew O’Connor – the two dedicated lawyers who fought incessantly for Ted’s release and acquittal.
Cyndy Short was toiling away in a small labor law firm when she was appointed to represent a young poor woman accused by the federal government of attempting to assassinate Jesse Jackson during his 1988 presidential campaign. This experience changed the course of her practice, and she dedicated most of the next 15 years of her career to the representation of poor people as a public defender in Kansas City( first in the trial division, then in the capital litigation division where she served as head of that office for nearly a decade). Her accomplishments have not gone unnoticed. She received the Lon O. Hocker Memorial Trial Lawyer Award in 1997, given annually by the Missouri Bar in recognition of outstanding trial work. She also received the Defender of Distinction Award in 1998 for her dedication to representing poor people charged with serious crimes. That is the highest honor given by the Missouri State Public Defender. The Western Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty recognized her work on the Dick Dexter case with their Courageous Litigator Award. She also graduated from Gerry Spence's Trial Lawyers' College in 1994. Since 1997, she has been a TLC faculty member trains lawyers and judges around the country. Numerous people owe their freedom and their lives to Cyndy's dedication, compassion, personal sacrifice, and skill as a trial lawyer.
The McCallister Law Firm is comprised of a team of lawyers who provide each client with professional counsel and personal attention. The firm’s attorneys actually mean it when they say they care about each of their clients. These lawyers are strong advocates for people both in and out of the courtroom. Behind each case the firm agrees to take on is a story and a person. Since 1996, when the firm was established, these attorneys have put their clients first. By carefully selecting each case, the firm’s lawyers can represent clients that they truly believe in. An important part of a lawyer's job is not just representing clients in court, but also developing a personal connection with them. And the attorneys at the McCallister Law Firm develop relationships with clients that last well beyond of a case. The firm is available whenever a former client has a legal concern.
Matthew J. O’Connor brings to his clients a wealth of expertise and an unparalleled passion for justice. Serving as the District Defender for the Fifth Judicial Circuit and later founding a thriving private practice, Matt has experienced tremendous success on a variety of legal playing fields. A seasoned Missouri criminal defense attorney with extensive trial experience, Matt’s legal expertise and storied courtroom skills have resulted in numerous successful verdicts for his clients. The media throughout northwestern Missouri has noted his charisma in court. As a result, he has been called on many times to serve as a television legal commentator and expert for several high profile trials in the region. Though he is best known for his trial practice, Matt is proud of his many appellate victories. Due to his strength and style of appellate advocacy the Attorney General’s Office has three times been forced to uncharacteristically confess error and concede reversal of Matt’s clients’ convictions.
The O’Connor Law Firm has extensive experience and great success in the area of Federal Criminal Defense. The Federal court system requires an attorney with a high level of skill and experience in the particular area of law. Whether someone is facing Federal Drug Charges or has been charged with a White Collar Crime, such as money laundering, embezzlement, forgery, mail fraud, internet fraud, bank fraud or identity theft, The O’Connor Law Firm has the experience to help clients with the upmost level of discretion and confidentiality.