Case in point, the murder trial of Jacob Gentry. Jacob Gentry was a young man working on average 80 to 100 hours per week on a pipeline construction job near Pine Island New York in 2008. Described by both defense and state's witnesses alike as being a hard worker and not a trouble maker, he was repeatedly assaulted by a group of known trouble makers both on and off the job. Jacob was attacked from behind, and beaten again by several men after retreating from a confrontation while getting on an elevator to go to his room. Jacob and his girlfriend sought help from the Vernon Township police department, but received none. Trying to avoid future confrontations with this group, Jacob moved to Port Jervice, New York. This substantially increased his rent as well as his drive time to and from work. All of his efforts were in vain, however, because the bullying continued. On the evening of August 17, 2008 while dropping off a co-worker who felt he was too intoxicated to drive, Jacob encountered one of the bullies. He had been told by staff that the "trouble makers were gone", therefore he felt that he could safely go in and say, "hello" to friends he had made while living there. Once inside, he and his younger brother, a college student with an exemplary reputation, were approached by Mr. David Haulmark. Video surveillance shows Haulmark striking another man in the head from behind just 40 minutes prior to Jacob's arrival, a tactic he had already used on Jacob. Prosecutors coached their witnesses as they described Haulmark's actions as, "playful", but a patron sitting nearby testified that there was nothing playful about it. Later that night David Haulmark followed Jacob and Jacob's brother Jarrod outside. Minutes later patrons find Mr. Haulmark down outside and emergency personnel are eventually contacted.
Police arrive at Jacob's residence in the early morning hours of August 18, telling Jacob that Mr. Haulmark told them he had been in a fight with Jake. Jacob acknowledges this as the truth and answers all questions. He is subsequently transported to jail, but is unaware that Mr. Haulmark has passed away until his arraignment. Despite repeated motions for a quick and speedy trial, (one of which was never addressed), Jacob and Jarrod were charged with 1st degree murder and held for over 3 years under a $750,000 bond. George Dagget was retained as an attorney for Jarrod, with the promise that he would aid the public defender, Tomas Militano, as it would be a "conflict of interest" for him to represent both Gentrys.
Once the trial began, the prosecutors lied, saying that Mr. Haulmark never harmed Jacob. They acknowledged violence by Sean (Frog) Taxis, and their own witnesses described Haulmark as Frog's "muscle." Both men's violent nature was brought out as the state's own witness described an event in which they became upset over what she thought was tip money. Mr. Haulmark, calling himself the "pipeline mafia" told her they would kill her and her children and bury them where their body's would never be found.
Prosecutors telephoned defense witnesses trying to dissuade them from testifying, and ridiculed them once they took the stand. Seanna Pappas described pipeliners as "uneducated", an ignorant statement that I'm sure many pipeline engineers, project managers, and others with college degrees would debate. She wove a story of what might have happened that night, complete with a narrative of their imagined conversation. This was allowed, with instructions to the jury that it was, in fact, pure speculation. Lines of questioning and witness testimony attesting to Haulmark's violence toward his ex-wife were blocked, even though the defense attorney had copies of two orders of protection filed by her. In these, she describes violent attacts aggainst her which included biting, (he had also bitten and choked Jacob) and documented the fact that she feared not only for her life, but for that of her children, as well. Prosecutors instead described Haulmark as a non-violent family man, leaving out his drug use and arrest record.
Judge N. Peter Conforti said he was considering a misstrial after a violation of the sequestration order by two of the State's witnesses, but ruled that the trial would continue. The last crushing blow to the defense was on the day the defense rested, when both defense attorney, Tom Militano and prosecutor Greg Muller had knowledge of and failed to tell the judge about another violation of the sequestration order. This should be deemed prosecutorial misconduct with prejudice. State's witness Kenneth Wise, a member of the New Jersey State Police who had appeared as a CSI, a blood spatter expert (he was deemed an expert in this courtroom for the first time ever after taking a 40 hour course), and as a rebuttal witness was seen exiting the elevator engaged in a conversation with a juror. Another clear violation of the court imposed order of sequestration.
The jury consequently convicted Jacob of aggrivated manslaughter. At sentencing, Judge Conforti acqnowledged that there had been prior altercations between Jacob and Mr. Haulmark and that Haulmarks own actions most likely contributed to his death. This went against the basis of what the prosecution maintained throughout the trial. Jacob was sentenced to 30 years and is currently serving his sentence in the New Jersey State Prison. An appeal has been filed, but it is a lengthy process and one in which an innocent man, a victim of bullying, is languishing in one of the worst prisons in the U.S. President Obama saw fit to pass legeslation against bullying but does nothing to aid it's victims.
Jacob is known as a loving, generous, kind and honest person by those who know him. He has always been a friend and helper to those less fortunate. Now the time has come to help him. We desperately need to bring attention and public reaction to stand up and tell the people in New Jersey that they are wrong. Anyone who feels that justice wasn't served needs to stand up and let your voice be heard. We feel sadness and hurt for the Haulmark family, but this doesn't mean that Jacob deserved an unfair trial. This trial was streamed live at http://www.njherald.com/
