INNOCENCE

Innocent is not a novel. It is not fiction. It is a first-hand account of a man fighting for his freedom after being sentenced to life without parole for a crime he insists he did not commit. Randy Chestnut Jr. takes readers inside the courtroom, into the interrogation room, and deep into the mechanics of a criminal justice system he argues failed him. Through detailed analysis of trial transcripts, police reports, forensic findings, and legal procedures, including a controversial Jackson v. Denno hearing, Chestnut presents his claim of actual innocence. He examines: The absence of physical evidence linking him to the crime A latent fingerprint deemed “no value for identification” An unrecorded, alleged confession without body camera footage Grand jury and indictment irregularities Prosecutorial conduct and sentence enhancement leading to life without parole The power of rumor and suggestion in shaping investigations More than a legal argument, Innocent is a deeply personal narrative about faith, resilience, systemic injustice, racial disparity in sentencing, and the emotional toll of wrongful conviction. It challenges readers to consider how easily assumptions can replace proof, and how devastating the consequences can be. This book is a call to action. A demand to be heard. A plea for justice.