Ex-Detective Sentenced for Coercing False Confession

Former Philadelphia homicide detective James Pitts was sentenced to 32 to 64 months in prison after being convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice for coercing a false confession from Obina Onyiah in 2010. Pitts violently forced Onyiah to confess to a robbery and murder he did not commit, leading to Onyiah's wrongful conviction and 11-year imprisonment. Onyiah was exonerated in 2021 after the District Attorney's Conviction Integrity Unit presented evidence, including photogrammetry and height analysis, proving his innocence. This case marked a significant moment as it was the first time in nearly 50 years that a Philadelphia law enforcement officer was held criminally accountable for such misconduct. The exoneration was part of a broader effort by DA Larry Krasner's administration, which has cleared numerous wrongful convictions. The actual perpetrator of the crime remains unidentified.