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Charles T. Dubbs

Other Pennsylvania Cases with Mistaken Witness Identifications
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In June 2000, a woman was sexually assaulted on a running path in Lancaster, Pennsylvania by a man with a knife. A year later, a similar attack on a second woman occurred nearby.

A police officer believed the description of the attacker resembled 36-year-old Charles “Ted” Dubbs, who he had recently arrested for indecent exposure.

Both victims picked Dubbs out of a mug book, though one victim didn't pick Dubbs until her second review of the photos

In May 2002, Dubbs went to trial in Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas. Both women identified him. Dubbs presented alibis for both attacks. Nonetheless, a jury convicted him of sexual assault and he was sentenced to 12 to 40 years in prison. 
 
After Dubbs was incarcerated, similar attacks continued to occur and in 2005, police arrested Wilbur Cyrus Brown for the later attacks.

Brown bore a striking resemblance to Dubbs. In 2006, Brown confessed to the 2000 and 2001 attacks for which Dubbs had been convicted.

In September 2007, Dubbs was granted a new trial on the basis of Brown’s confession. The prosecutor dismissed the charges. 
 
- Stephanie Denzel

Report an error or add more information about this case.

Posting Date:  Before June 2012
State:Pennsylvania
County:Lancaster
Most Serious Crime:Sexual Assault
Additional Convictions:
Reported Crime Date:2001
Convicted:2002
Exonerated:2007
Sentence:12 to 40 years
Race/Ethnicity:White
Sex:Male
Age at the date of reported crime:36
Contributing Factors:Mistaken Witness ID
Did DNA evidence contribute to the exoneration?:No