Deborah Peagler
Encyclopedia
Deborah "Debi" Denise Peagler (December 27, 1959, Pensacola, Florida
- June 8, 2010, Compton, California
) was a battered woman who was in prison from 1983 to 2009 for alleged involvement in the murder of Oliver Wilson, the man who abused her, forced her into prostitution, and molested her daughters.
Her incarceration became controversial in 2005. Peagler's supporters established a website to publicize her cause. In 2008, a California Superior Court Judge removed Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley
's entire office from Peagler's case due to allegations of misconduct and conflicts of interest. The California Court of Appeal later reversed that decision, but also found that some of the allegations against the District Attorney's Office were true.
In 1982, Peagler’s abuser was beaten and strangled to death by two Crips
gang members who were friends of Peagler’s mother. Peagler was accused of first-degree murder alongside one of the gang members; the other gang member was a minor at the time and was charged with a lesser crime.
Peagler never had a trial by jury. Prosecutors threatened to pursue the death penalty against her, and her attorney urged her to plead guilty in order to save her life. She was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
In 2002, lawyers Nadia Costa and Joshua Safran from the law firm Bingham McCutchen
began working pro bono
to free Peagler. Their work relied on a unique California law enacted in 2002. The law gives battered women in prison the chance for a new hearing if the original court never considered evidence relating to abuse.
Peagler’s attorneys in 2007 filed suit against the Los Angeles District Attorney over what they alleged was the broken agreement to free their client.
Peagler was incarcerated at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, California
, the largest women’s prison in the country. She directed the prison gospel choir and earned two associates degrees while behind bars.
In February 2009, Peagler was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, and her lawyers attempted to win her release on bail, but the judge declined the request on technical grounds. On July 10, 2009, she was found suitable for release by the California Board of Parole Hearings. On August 4, 2009, Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley
questioned the parole decision in a letter to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
in which Cooley
suggested that the parole board was wrong to offer Peagler her freedom.
On August 19, 2009, Peagler's family members and community supporters protested outside the Los Angeles office of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, demanding Peagler's release. On August 20, 2009, Governor Schwarzenegger declined to review the parole finding, allowing Peagler to be released on August 22, 2009.
Peagler died on June 8, 2010. Her case is the subject of a documentary Crime After Crime
which premiered in January 2011 at the Sundance Film Festival
.
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
- June 8, 2010, Compton, California
Compton, California
Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city of Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city to incorporate. The city is considered part of the South side by residents of Los...
) was a battered woman who was in prison from 1983 to 2009 for alleged involvement in the murder of Oliver Wilson, the man who abused her, forced her into prostitution, and molested her daughters.
Her incarceration became controversial in 2005. Peagler's supporters established a website to publicize her cause. In 2008, a California Superior Court Judge removed Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley
Steve Cooley
Stephen Lawrence "Steve" Cooley is an American politician. As a Republican, he has been a prosecutor for 27 years and has been the Los Angeles County District Attorney since his election in 2000, in which he defeated incumbent two-term District Attorney Gil Garcetti, a Democrat...
's entire office from Peagler's case due to allegations of misconduct and conflicts of interest. The California Court of Appeal later reversed that decision, but also found that some of the allegations against the District Attorney's Office were true.
In 1982, Peagler’s abuser was beaten and strangled to death by two Crips
Crips
The Crips are a primarily, but not exclusively, African American gang. They were founded in Los Angeles, California, in 1969 mainly by Raymond Washington and Stanley Williams...
gang members who were friends of Peagler’s mother. Peagler was accused of first-degree murder alongside one of the gang members; the other gang member was a minor at the time and was charged with a lesser crime.
Peagler never had a trial by jury. Prosecutors threatened to pursue the death penalty against her, and her attorney urged her to plead guilty in order to save her life. She was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
In 2002, lawyers Nadia Costa and Joshua Safran from the law firm Bingham McCutchen
Bingham McCutchen
Bingham McCutchen LLP is a global law firm with approximately 1,100 attorneys in nine US offices and four international offices. It represents clients in corporate litigation, cross-border restructurings and insolvencies, financing and securities, structured finance and capital markets, government...
began working pro bono
Pro bono
Pro bono publico is a Latin phrase generally used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment or at a reduced fee as a public service. It is common in the legal profession and is increasingly seen in marketing, technology, and strategy consulting firms...
to free Peagler. Their work relied on a unique California law enacted in 2002. The law gives battered women in prison the chance for a new hearing if the original court never considered evidence relating to abuse.
Peagler’s attorneys in 2007 filed suit against the Los Angeles District Attorney over what they alleged was the broken agreement to free their client.
Peagler was incarcerated at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, California
Chowchilla, California
Chowchilla is a city in Madera County, California, United States. Chowchilla is located northwest of Madera, at an elevation of 240 feet . It is a principal city of the Madera–Chowchilla Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 18,720 at the 2010 census, up from 11,127 at the 2000...
, the largest women’s prison in the country. She directed the prison gospel choir and earned two associates degrees while behind bars.
In February 2009, Peagler was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, and her lawyers attempted to win her release on bail, but the judge declined the request on technical grounds. On July 10, 2009, she was found suitable for release by the California Board of Parole Hearings. On August 4, 2009, Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley
Steve Cooley
Stephen Lawrence "Steve" Cooley is an American politician. As a Republican, he has been a prosecutor for 27 years and has been the Los Angeles County District Attorney since his election in 2000, in which he defeated incumbent two-term District Attorney Gil Garcetti, a Democrat...
questioned the parole decision in a letter to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
in which Cooley
Steve Cooley
Stephen Lawrence "Steve" Cooley is an American politician. As a Republican, he has been a prosecutor for 27 years and has been the Los Angeles County District Attorney since his election in 2000, in which he defeated incumbent two-term District Attorney Gil Garcetti, a Democrat...
suggested that the parole board was wrong to offer Peagler her freedom.
On August 19, 2009, Peagler's family members and community supporters protested outside the Los Angeles office of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, demanding Peagler's release. On August 20, 2009, Governor Schwarzenegger declined to review the parole finding, allowing Peagler to be released on August 22, 2009.
Peagler died on June 8, 2010. Her case is the subject of a documentary Crime After Crime
Crime After Crime (film)
Crime After Crime is a 2011 documentary film directed by Yoav Potash about the case of Deborah Peagler. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2011, and will be shown at the San Francisco International Film Festival in April 2011....
which premiered in January 2011 at the Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
.