On Thursday, August 22, Anthony Bedolla was released after 14 years of wrongful imprisonment, thanks to the Mexican Penal Defense Program (PDM). This unique initiative supports vulnerable individuals and positions Mexico at the forefront of consular protection for its citizens abroad.
The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Bedolla had faced criminal charges for an incident at a nightclub in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 2010. However, subsequent investigations revealed that he was not at the scene of the crime and had been unjustly convicted based on false testimony. It is important to note that Bedolla consistently maintained his innocence.
His dismissal was achieved after the PDM, a joint initiative between the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the University of Notre Dame, petitioned the Marion County Superior Court in Indianapolis to present evidence that absolved him of the crime and overturn his 45-year sentence. The conviction was annulled on August 20, after 14 years in prison, and Bedolla was released two days later.
In a statement, Jimmy Gurulé, founder and director of the Notre Dame Law School's Exoneration Justice Clinic, disclosed that numerous irregularities were found during the legal investigation, leading to Bedolla's wrongful conviction.
“The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department engaged in serious misconduct by withholding substantial evidence pointing to an alternative suspect, the true perpetrator. The lead detective also provided false testimony during the trial and in a deposition, which resulted in Bedolla's wrongful conviction," Gurulé said.
Anthony Bedolla’s release marks the first success story of the Mexican Penal Defense Program (PDM), which was formalized in December 2023 through a collaboration between the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs via the Consulate General of Mexico in Chicago and the University of Notre Dame Law School. To assist with his reintegration into society, the Mexican Consulate in Indianapolis, Indiana, will continue providing consular assistance and protection to Bedolla.
What is the Mexican Penal Defense Program in the United States (PDM)?
Through the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs network, Vanessa Calva Ruíz, Director General of Consular Protection and Strategic Planning, explained that the Mexican Penal Defense Program (PDM) in the United States is a unique and innovative program created under the directive of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
“The PDM is a new initiative that follows President López Obrador's instructions to provide specialized assistance to individuals who have been unjustly sentenced, where there are legal grounds to support their presumption of innocence. It also allows us to assist vulnerable populations,” Calva Ruíz stated.
This program offers new hope to hundreds of people in the United States who face disproportionate and unjust sentences and belong to vulnerable groups, such as minors, members of Indigenous communities, or the LGBTQ+ community, among others.
Moreover, it is a path toward building a more just and safe society. As Gurulé emphasizes, “In cases of wrongful conviction, not only is an innocent person condemned and deprived of their freedom for a crime they did not commit, but the real perpetrator remains free and unaccountable. Therefore, it is a double tragedy and injustice for society.”