Shannon Jr. and legal team to sue Lawrence PD, county’s DA for millions

Lawrence, Kan. — Lamonte McIntyre’s son and his legal team announced a $10 million lawsuit against the Lawrence Police Department and the county’s district attorney over his wrongful conviction.

McIntyre was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 1994 for the murder and robbery of Doug Joiner, a University of Kansas student. In 2022, after 23 years in prison, DNA evidence exonerated him.

Shannon Jr. said the lawsuit is about holding those accountable who put an innocent man behind bars for more than two decades. He said the lawsuit will allege malicious prosecution, fabrication of evidence, and a conspiracy to deprive McIntyre of his civil rights.

The lawsuit names the city of Lawrence, the Lawrence Police Department, former Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson, and several Lawrence police officers as defendants. The lawsuit claims that the city and police department failed to properly investigate the murder and that the police officers involved fabricated evidence and coerced witnesses to testify against McIntyre.

It also alleges that Branson, the district attorney at the time, knew or should have known that the evidence against McIntyre was weak and that he withheld exculpatory evidence from the defense. The lawsuit seeks $10 million in damages, including $5 million for emotional distress and $5 million for lost wages and earning capacity.

McIntyre’s legal team said they are confident that they will prevail in the lawsuit and that they hope it will send a message that wrongful convictions will not be tolerated.