Charles Don Flores

Case identification

Charles Don Flores (Hispanic male) was sentenced to death on April 2, 1999. He was also on Texas Death Row.

Timeline

• 01/29/1998 — Flores and the co-defendant, Richard Lynn Childs, murdered a 64-year-old white female during the course of a burglary in Farmers Branch, Texas.
• 04/02/1999 — Flores was sentenced to death.

Background

Flores said he was a twenty nine year old Hispanic male, 6ft 1in tall and heavily built, with black hair and brown eyes, from Dallas, Texas. He stated that he believed he was an innocent man who had been maliciously charged, prosecuted, found guilty, and sentenced to die for a capital murder he did not commit.

Flores stated that he had been prosecuted by the Dallas County District Attorney. He stated that the presiding District Court Judge did not care about justice and was concerned about appearing to be “TUFF ON CRIME”. Flores referred to his case as a “Travesty of Justice”.

Flores gave personal statements about a lack of physical evidence and about witnesses and investigation procedures, including that he gave blood to have DNA tests done.

Prior record

Flores had a prior prison record number #719836. He had received a 2 year sentence from Tarrant County for Robbery By Threats and Possession Of Cocaine.

The offence

On 01/29/98, during the daytime hours, in Farmers Branch, Texas, Flores and the co-defendant, Richard Lynn Childs, murdered a 64-year-old white female during the course of a burglary. Flores and Childs broke into the victim’s house and shot the victim with a pistol.

Flores and Childs were looking for money but did not find any.

Investigation

Flores stated there was no physical evidence that linked him with the crime, including no finger prints, no foot prints, no DNA evidence, no hair samples, no clothing fibres, and “NOTHING AT ALL”. Flores also stated there was no eye witness to the murder.

Flores stated that the murder weapon was never found.

Flores stated that a witness who lived next door to the deceased told homicide investigators she had seen some one at the residence of the deceased before the crime took place. Flores stated the witness gave a description of “white male, 6ft tall, medium build, long dark hair and dark eyes.” Flores stated that three days after the crime, the witness was shown a six photo line up including his photo and “she did not select my photo.” Flores stated the witness was then hypnotised by the Homicide Investigators “to refresh her memory” and shown the photos once more, and “Again she did not select my photo as the person she had seen.”

Flores stated: “IT'S SIMPLE, I WAS NOT THERE !”

Arrest and pre-trial events

Flores stated that although he believed the overwhelming evidence showed he was not guilty, he was arrested and charged with capital murder and incarcerated until he went to his jury trial.

Flores stated that while he was in prison awaiting a jury trial, the prosecutor was building a case against him using “Gestapo' like tactics.” Flores stated that the Dallas County Prosecutor, his investigators and the homicide investigators “interviewed” every person who knew him, both friend and foe, using intimidation and threats of “send that person to prison”, if they did not tell the “truth” about him.

Flores stated that the prosecution found several people willing to speak against him who were facing criminal charges, and that in exchange for lying about him, they received a “slap on the wrist”, receiving probation for their crimes. Flores stated that the “all mighty” prosecutor bought and paid for their testimony.

Flores stated that as a result, he was charged with several other crimes, which he said he believed were intended to make sure he stayed in jail, and that he later believed the prosecutor intended to use the extraneous crimes at a later date.

Flores stated that Dallas County Prosecution interrogators then targetted his loved ones, including his wife and his 60 year old mother and father, who he said were questioned, intimidated and threatened with ten years in prison.

Flores stated that his family refused to lie and testify against him and that his wife was arrested twice, and that his mother and father were also arrested.

Flores stated that the Chief Prosecutor told them: “And if you testify in Charles' behalf I will send you to prison for ten years.”

Flores stated that he believed the Chief Prosecutor’s words.

Trial

Flores stated that in March 1999, he went to trial for Capital Murder. He stated he had a solid defence: that he was an hour's drive away from the crime scene and had four witnesses to his where-abouts at the time of the murder.

Flores stated that he was scared for himself and for his family and friends, and that he said he knew the prosecutor would send them all to prison if they testified and told the truth in his behalf. Flores stated that he refused to call his witnesses in his defence, knowing what would happen if he did, and that he was forced to face a Capital Murder charge where the State of Texas was seeking the Death Penalty.

Flores stated that during the trial, no evidence was presented that “beyond reasonable doubt” proved his guilt.

Flores stated that the witness who lived next door to the deceased, who he said did not pick his photo out of the photo line up before or after being hypnotised, was called to testify. Flores stated that a full year and a half after the crime, the witness was able to place him at the crime scene two hours before the murder took place. Flores stated this was the only evidence the prosecution offered to link him to the crime.

Flores stated that the prosecutor was allowed by the District Court Judge to introduce other criminal charges into the guilt and innocence phase of his Capital Murder trial, and that this he said influenced and prejudiced the jury into thinking: “this man did all these crimes, so he did the killing too!”

Flores stated that the judge was aware this was a direct violation of his rights guaranteed by the constitution of the United States and a direct violation of Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, and that Flores said the judge was thinking of re-election and his appearance of not tolerating crime.

Flores stated that the jury found him guilty of capital murder. He stated they thought he would pose a continuing threat to society and sentenced him to Death.

Sentencing

Flores stated that he was sentenced to Death and that the sentencing occurred after the jury found him guilty of capital murder.

Appeals

Flores stated that since he had been on Death Row, he had been studying his Capital Conviction appeal and had found over thirty reversible errors, and that he still had much more research to do.

Outcome

Flores was sentenced to death on April 2, 1999.

Aftermath

Flores stated that he was diligently working to vindicate himself and prove his innocence, and that he needed support to prove to the State of Texas that he was innocent.

Flores stated that he currently was trying to gain worldwide recognition for his case and to raise funds for competent defence appeal counsel when his case was reviewed by the Appeal Courts in Texas.

Flores asked for help, including monetary support and moral support, and asked that the summary be passed on to someone else who cared.

Flores stated he wanted others to contact him at the address listed for updates on his case.