Repository Collection 03

Wrongfully imprisoned: Advocates urge Buncombe to create exoneration unit

ARTICLE SOURCE ENTRY

Last Revised • July 11, 2026

This Source Verification Page documents the Asheville Watchdog article Wrongfully imprisoned: Advocates urge Buncombe to create exoneration unit, cited in Claim III of the Supplemental Motion. The article is relied upon for reporting concerning the resource limitations facing the Buncombe County District Attorney's Office in reviewing post-conviction claims and the discussion surrounding the creation of a conviction integrity or exoneration unit. It is included to provide supporting context for the allegations presented in Paragraph 127 of the Supplemental Motion.


Related SMAR Citation

“State v. Ronnie Long: Cabarrus Co. Willful police misconduct, mishandling of evidence, and prosecutorial failures led to vacatur and exoneration.”


Title

Wrongfully imprisoned: Advocates urge Buncombe to create exoneration unit


Author

Victoria A. Ifatusin


Publication

Asheville Watchdog


Publication Date

April 17, 2024


Verification Source

Original Asheville Watchdog article reviewed and verified.


Source Location

Asheville Watchdog article


Highlighted Pages

3


Referenced in the Supplemental Motion

Page 63, Paragraph: 127


Source Status

✔ Obtained and reviewed.

✔ Relevant passages highlighted.

✔ Publicly available source

✔ Included within the Source Verification Archive


Cited to Support

May's allegation that HB307 ("Iryna's Law") has imposed additional demands and time constraints upon post-conviction counsel while resources available to investigate and develop post-conviction claims remain limited. Specifically, May cites reporting that Buncombe County District Attorney Todd Williams stated that the Buncombe County District Attorney's Office "is the least well-funded and staffed metro DA's office in the state," and that the office has been unable to obtain additional funding and staffing resources. May relies upon this reporting to support his claim that the investigation of extensive post-conviction misconduct allegations may exceed the resources presently available to both post-conviction counsel and the Buncombe County District Attorney's Office.


Supporting Documents

Original Article

Link to the original article.

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Highlighted Research Copy

Working research copy containing the highlighted passages cited in the Supplemental Motion.

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