By Dominic DeGrinney, Staff Writer 

Xavier’s chapter of the Ohio Innocence Project (OIP) welcomed guest speakers Marty Levingston and Marcus Sapp to campus last Thursday to answer questions about their combined 28 years in prison and how their experience shaped their life after incarceration. 

OIP is a non-profit organization located out of Cincinnati made up of lawyers, psychologists and volunteers with the goal of getting innocent people in Ohio out of prison. The event was hosted by Xavier’s chapter of OIP, part of an outreach program to spread the realities of wrongful convictions to college students. 

Levingston and Sapp kicked off the event by describing the circumstances of their respective cases. Both men were convicted of murder, as well as other offenses, and sentenced to twenty-plus years in prison for crimes that they did not commit. 

The OIP’s webpage details the inconsistent use of evidence and failure to comply with procedural due process that resulted in the release of the two individuals. Of the two, Levingston served the longest term of fifteen years and was released only upon taking a plea deal after the murder charge was disproved.

“Prosecutors approached Mr. Levingston with an offer to plead to lesser included offenses and leave prison… Marty chose freedom – a choice that was taken away from him for all these years. Key to his decision was his desire to return to his supportive family, and to rebuild his own life with them,” OIP’s website states.

Sapp was sentenced to 27 years to life for a murder and assault which occurred during a home invasion that was eventually connected to two other individuals. Professors at the University of Cincinnati Law School discovered that the evidence that could undermine the case against Sapp was never provided to the courts. It is because of this that the Hamilton County Common Pleas Court ordered a new trial and allowed Sapp to be released from prison ahead of the new trial.

“It was really impactful to hear Marcus and Marty’s stories. They let us ask questions and we got to know them better. They shared the funny parts and the frustrating parts about their experience and helped me realize that false convictions are impacting real people all the time,” junior art major Ellie Rockford said.

After Sapp arrived three years into Levingston’s sentence, the two connected. They had known of each other before, but only connected while in prison, as both were working with OIP and spending time in the library to better understand their cases.

“We kept our peace by keeping our minds moving. We had the knowledge, but the books helped form us and taught us about the legal system and our cases. I learned patience and stayed focused on the long goal I set for myself,” Sapp said.

The conversation also revolved around the unconditional support that they received from their families and how it motivated them throughout the time they spent in prison. Both recalled how their families helped to access resources and fight for them while they were in prison.

“My mom, my dad, were there for me from beginning to end. My mom was even traveling through snow to visit OIP and get more information on my case,” Levingston recalled.

 “Getting to hear these stories showed me how our criminal justice system sometimes cares more about just putting someone behind bars rather than actually convicting a truly guilty person, which I think is something we need to work to change,” Rockford said.    

Both men were released in the winter of 2023, with Sapp being released in January to be home just in time to celebrate his mother’s 69th birthday. Levingston was released the following month, when after fifteen years he was able to eat dinner with his loving family, marry his wife and welcome a new grandchild.

“It’s been peaceful,” Levingston said. “I love where I am at.” 

Both men talked about a few of the difficulties that they faced after being recently incarcerated. Some jobs do not accept those recently released from prison, but eventually the two found jobs where they were accepted. Levingston recalled one instance where he had thought he had found a job where no one knew about his past, only to find out they knew all along.

The two are living happily now with their supportive families. They continue to spread awareness of the Ohio Innocence Project’s work to free innocent people.

“I love doing this, right here… getting my life together, teaching, learning, that’s what it’s all about.” Sapp said.