Free Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson has been a prisoner in the California prison system for 45 years.  We believe his continued incarceration is excessive and cruel.  We urge you to read the facts of his case below and give whatever support you are able to.

The Facts:

- Michael Thompson has been a prisoner in the California prison system for 45 years.  He has served one of the longest sentences in the history of the state. He was incarcerated when he was 23 years old for the murder of two small-time drug dealers.

- From 1978-1984 Michael was a member of the Aryan Brotherhood (AB.) However, Michael dropped out of the AB after the murder of Richard Barnes, the elderly father of Steve Barnes - an AB defector who testified against the gang, because he felt the gang crossed a moral line.  After he left the AB Michael actively cooperated with law enforcement and testified in numerous trials, including the trial of a Hells Angels member for the execution-style killing of  Margo Compton and her twin six-year old daughters. 

- Michael is of mixed heritage.  His family ancestry includes Yurok author Lucy Thompson, the wife of his many-times-great uncle Jim Thompson.  Michael's identification as Native American, however, rests less on his "blood quantum"  and more on his upbringing on Big Pine (Paiute) Reservation in Owens Valley and his tutelage under his Native American foster-father Jack Martin, a  traditional medicine man and horse rancher.  Michael is a long-time practitioner of Native American spirituality.  He currently serves as the Native American clerk and groundskeeper at CIM, California Institution for Men.  He is a holder of the Sacred Pipe—he is permitted to conduct ceremonies using the pipe and to teach songs, stories and traditional knowledge passed down to him. 

- Michael has been consistently labeled "low risk" for violence in psychiatric assessments for many years.  ("No risk" does not exist.) While in prison Michael has earned Bachelor's, Masters and Ph.D degrees through correspondence courses.  He has been trained and certified as a substance abuse counselor to inmates as part of a corrections-sponsored drug rehabilitation program.  He has never abused substances.  He has remained violence-free since 1984.  

- Despite having checked every box of being suitable for parole, Michael has been found "unsuitable" by the Board of Parole Hearings 17 times.  The reasons given include being "too intelligent," "too educated," "not humble enough," "too charismatic," "having to be a leader," and "lacking insight into this crime." The last basis for unsuitability is due to Michael's insistence that he is innocent of his original commitment offense—the murder of the two drug dealers.  Since the board cannot legally deny parole solely because an inmate claims innocence, the board bases its denial on the idea that Michael's explanation is "not credible."  

- Michael's conviction for murder rests on the trial testimony of one man: original co-defendant Michael Sesma.  But Sesma confessed at his own board hearing that he alone killed both drug-dealers.  Despite this fact, Sesma was paroled in 2016 and Michael's claim of innocence has been consistently rejected.  

- Parole commissioners have stated that Michael is "still the most dangerous prisoner" in the California Prison System, that he "will never be paroled" and that he must "admit his guilt" for his original commitment offense to be considered suitable.  Because a parole hearing is deemed by law to be an "administrative hearing" and not a criminal prosecution, civil rights do not apply.  The board is given "great discretion" to deny parole  based on the theory of  "some evidence" in which "some evidence" can mean almost anything, even secret (confidential) information that the inmate cannot confront and refute. 

The bottom line is, Michael Thompson has served 45 years for two murders that another man has confessed sole responsibility for committing.  Michael was convicted of second degree murder, not even first degree murder.  Even if he were guilty, Michael would be an "aider and abetter" and not the perpetrator, given Sesma's confession and Michael's second degree murder conviction.  Michael was eligible for parole in 1977—40 years ago.  

Do you believe Michael Thompson is "the most dangerous man" in the California prison system?  If so, do nothing. If you think differently, please donate what you can toward Michael Thompson's legal fund.  All monies donated will go toward Michael's legal fees and any monies in excess of his litigation-related needs will be donated to a nonprofit Michael has been instrumental in creating: Live Learn and Prosper.

You may also write him an encouraging message at:
Michael Thompson
B68010CIM, Facility C, Alpine 125
P.O. Box 500
Chino, CA  91708.