Brian's Story
Brian Banks was a junior and tremendously talented football player at the world famous Long Beach Polytechnic High School, an institution that has produced more NFL players than any other in the country. He was receiving attention from Division 1 programs and many thought Brian would make it to the National Football League. He was in good company; four of Brian’s classmates (DeSean Jackson, Darnell Bing, Winston Justice, and Marcedes Lewis) would eventually compete in that league. His future looked very bright.
That is… until Brian was falsely accused of rape by a female classmate who knowingly lied to the police. Not only did this lie derail his football career and future, it sent him to prison for over 5 years. To make matters worse, Brian’s accuser was awarded millions of dollars for her lie in a civil suit against the school district. Upon his release, Brian tried to get his life going but the false status as a sex offender kept closing doors.
Eventually, Brian sought help from the California Innocence Project (CIP) to help clear his name. It was not enough that he was free, he wanted his life back before it passed him by. After persuading Justin Brooks (CIP Founder and then Director) to take his case, he undertook a perilous legal gamble to get exonerated. As it turned out, this risky endeavor ultimately saved him from a zealous prosecutor trying to put Brian back in prison.
‘Brian’s Story’ is a three-episode series told in his voice and hosted by Michael Semanchik, executive director for The Innocence Center. Tune in to hear how Brian cleared his name and won a spot in the NFL.
Special thanks to our sponsor Clio – Cloud-Based Legal Technology.
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