The quiet, suburban life that Quincy Alexander Smith a 32 year old Husband and Father of 3, Preston - 9, Kyleigh – 6, and Khloe - now 2 months, knew was quickly flipped upside down.  He was convicted of 1st Degree Vehicular Homicide on March 30, 2016 and sentenced to spend the next 15 years of his life in GA State Prison by Judge Robert James in Douglas County Superior Court - on a minimum 3 year sentence for the offense. Quincy had 

NO PRIOR CONVICTIONS of any offenses, held a viable career with Southwest Airlines for 8 years at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, and Federal Security Clearance issued from our United States’ Government Department of Homeland Security for almost 10 years. 

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Our lives completely changed on March 1, 2015 when Quincy was in an unfortunate motor vehicle accident with a motorcyclist.  Quincy stayed on the scene, was described by law enforcement as being polite and cooperative, however because he was driving with no shoes on, his admission of 2 beers at midnight he was assumed to be less safe to drive 7 hours later when the accident occurred shortly after 7:00 am.  On April 29, 2015, Quincy appeared for his first bond hearing in which Judge James denied the bond completely.  Not because he would commit another felony (he had never done so before), or because he would be a flight risk (he has significant ties to the community), or would intimidate witnesses (there are none), or a threat to society (in what way?), but solely because the ADA Thomas Kegley requested no bond and the judge conceded.  As a result, Quincy sat in the Douglas County Jail for a total of 7 months before he had another bond hearing in front of Judge Donald Howe who honored Quincy's constitutional right to a reasonable bond on October 14, 2015, stating that "the U.S. Constitution states that you are innocent until proven guilty..." and Quincy came home on October 16, 2016 with one bond stipulation - NO DRIVING.  

 

Quincy was home for 6 months, followed his bond requirements to a tee by the usage of the Marta Public Transportation System, Uber and Lyft Drivers, or friends and family to transport him places.  He had already lost his career, so he would use his time to volunteer, attend social action rallies downtown, or go to the library just to keep busy.  A week prior to his trial in Douglas County, an emergency bond revocation motion was written and served falsely accusing him of violating the stipulations of his bond by driving, from information from witnesses of whom never identified themselves.  The bond revocation motion was dismissed because these witnesses weren't so sure that they saw him driving to court on the date in question - March 7, 2016 - after they were advised of the Uber driver documentation and pick up location, so as to not perjure themselves they decided not to come forward.  On March 30, 2016, Quincy was convicted of 1st degree Vehicular Homicide.  On April 6, 2016 - Quincy was sentenced to 15 years to serve as a result of the conviction.  Not only was he sentenced to the maximum sentence for the charge and his trial counsel requested the minimum 3 years, he was demonized by the State in remarks from the Assistant District Attorney Thomas Kegley and Superior Court Judge Robert James stating "he showed no remorse because he didn't cry during trial", "I'm surprised you didn't take the motorcycle and steal it to leave the scene", "if you had had a gun, I would have given you life", "he and his wife planned to get pregnant for leniency" and that "he forced a family to sit through a 2 week trial" instead of owning up to the fact that Quincy was never offered any plea recommendation, giving us no other option.  Quincy never wanted to go to trial in Douglas County for the fear of our worst nightmare - not because he was guilty of anything, but because being Black in Douglas County, you almost are in a lose-lose situation regardless of whatever direction you take.  The comments that were spoken of he and I basically accusing us of conspiracy is quite sickening, but not surprising for Douglas County. The sentiments of the county officials is by any means necessary - even if that means enhancing charges, lying, conspiring with witnesses, and even evidence tampering for the benefit of getting rid of another Black Man and destroying his entire family from the County. THIS HAS TO STOP!

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The stereotyping of African American men in the criminal justice system has now affected my family and I am petitioning that the appeal of his conviction is granted and an unbiased investigation on the underlying reason for such a harsh sentence for a man who has no prior convictions, a husband, father, and son, when there are cases of alternative sentences that have been granted in the State of Georgia, he was not afforded any alternative solely because of his race in a predominately white county.  I wish I didn't have to address this petition as a racial issue, but unfortunately that is the only explanation I can come up with especially with the stereotypical statements that were communicated in open court. 

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Please help us in bringing awareness to not just the bias in sentencing, but a wrong conviction.  It is unfortunate for the sake of numbers to force convictions, withhold pertinent information from a case, embellish, and lie to get another win for the county - which destroys an entire family and community in the process.

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Quincy is an amazing husband and father, who did nothing but provided for his family.  Please spread this to help bring Quincy home so that he won't be almost 50 years old upon his return, and will have the opportunity to raise his children and having a lasting impact on their lives and our society in a positive light.  Our children are currently, 9, 6, and 2 months.  With his current sentence, they would be 24, 21, and 15 upon his return.  

 

This could be your husband, father, brother, uncle, son, cousin, or friend.   An accident from a single left hand turn into our subdivision after dropping me and our children off at a friend's house for church, just 10 minutes prior, was maliciously labeled and prosecuted as a felony vehicular homicide for the sake of ruining yet another Black Man's life. As a result of this unfortunate situation, our children have lost their father, his mother has lost her son, and I have lost my husband.  Let's put a stop to wrongful convictions and indiscriminate sentencing in Douglas County, GA.  

 

Let's start with bringing Quincy home!