ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentary, Breakaway enlightens four-time WNBA champion, Maya Moore and her fight for justice for Jonathan Irons who spent 23 years of 50 years wrongfully convicted sentence in prison until he was freed in 2020. The documentary was released on 13 July and focuses on Moore’s achievement in basketball, private life, family, and her now-husband, Irons whom she married after his release.
Moore is called the greatest winner in the history of women’s basketball after she won WNBA Championship four times in her professional career. She is a six-time WNBA All-Star and was named WNBA MVP and FIBA World Championship MVP in 2014. She led the United States to win gold in two Olympics (2012 and 2016) and two World Championships (2010 and 2014).
Who is Jonathan Irons?
Source: @loevy
Who Is Jonathan Irons?
Jonathan Irons is an African-American citizen who was wrongfully convicted of burglary and assault and sentenced to 50-years in prison. Of which, he served 23 years in prison. Information about his parents is not known at present. His age is not known because his exact date of birth is not available. It can only be said that he is in his early 40s. Born in Missouri, Maya Moore’s husband Jonathan Irons stands around the height of 6 feet and 2 inches tall. He has a body weight of around 90kg. He has a dark skin tone with bald hair and his eye color is brown.
Jonathan Irons was convicted and sentenced to 50-years in prison when he was only 16 years old. Thus, he never had a proper job or career. He spent the most important adult age in prison before being released in 2020. Thus, he was deprived of pursuing a professional career. At present, his net worth is estimated below $500k. He still has a long way to go ahead of him. Thus, he might have a plan to do in the future.
Source: @lawprofessors
WNBA’s Maya Moore Marries Jonathan Irons
Maya Moore first met Jonathan Irons in 2007. She met Irons during a penitentiary visit and soon became friends. Over the years, she learned about Irons and his case and how he was wrongfully convicted of the crime he did not commit. Moore halted her professional career in 2019 and started to advocate against the legal system in the US. Moore fought for Irons and eventually won her fight against the system that led to Irons’ released in 2020. The two eventually got married after his release.
Source: @sbnation
What Was Jonathan Irons Accused Of?
Jonathan Irons was accused and convicted of breaking into a Missouri home and twice shooting a homeowner during a burglary in 1997. The court sentenced him to 50 years in prison. He was only 16 years old teenager when he was convicted of breaking into a Missouri home and twice non-fatal shooting of a homeowner. No fingerprints, footprints, or DNA evidence of Irons presence at the scene of the crime was found. Without any evidence of his involvement in the crime, Irons was convicted and sentenced to 50 years in prison, of which he served 23 years before being released.
Irons was released on 1 July 2020. Right after his release, Irons thanked everyone who advocated for him including Maya and her family. He said, “I’m free, I’m blessed, I just want to live my life worthy of God’s help and influence. I thank everybody who supported me-Maya and her family”.
Source: @missourinet
In March 2021, Jonathan Irons filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the officers of the O’Fallon Police Department and the St. Charles County Sheriff’s Department who falsely arrested him at age 16 and fabricated evidence to send him to prison for 23 years for a shooting he did not commit. These officers hid critical evidence showing that another person (Not Jonathan Irons) had committed the crime.
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