The Cuyahoga County prosecutor鈥檚 office has filed perjury charges against Erica Campbell whose testimony in April led to the release of a man wrongly convicted of murder.
During a hearing on an appeal of Jerry Sims鈥� 2019 murder conviction, Campbell told the court she gave false testimony in Jerry Sims鈥� 2019 murder trial because of pressure and manipulation by East Cleveland鈥檚 acting police chief, Kenneth Lundy.
In court documents and testimony, Campbell said she originally agreed to testify that she witnessed the 2017 killing of Jamarr Forkland after Lundy, who was a detective in East Cleveland at the time, convinced her that Sims, her then-boyfriend, was a threat to her safety.
鈥淚n fact, you have no knowledge if Mr. Sims was involved in that murder at all?鈥� asked Kim Kendall Corral, Sims鈥� attorney, during the hearing.
鈥淣o,鈥� the witness said.
鈥淎nd you lied in your testimony?鈥�
鈥渊别蝉.鈥�
鈥淓ven though you were under oath?鈥�
鈥渊别蝉.鈥�
鈥淒id you feel like you had a choice?鈥�
鈥淣辞.鈥�
Campbell said detectives threatened to charge her with Forkland鈥檚 murder after she initially told them she did not witness the murder. She later began a sexual relationship with Lundy prior to the trial.
The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor鈥檚 Office did not respond to a request for comment.
Campbell鈥檚 relationship with Lundy was never disclosed to Sims鈥� defense attorneys before or during trial, which is required under legal precedent. Following her testimony in April, prosecutors dismissed charges against Sims, and he was freed from prison.
In addition to being pressured by Lundy to lie on the stand, Campbell testified to years of assaults, harassment and stalking behavior following the trial by Lundy, who remains in his job as chief of police.
鈥淚 decided to come forward with the situation when I realized Ken became the chief of police,鈥� she said.
Lundy has previously confirmed to Ideastream that he had a relationship with Campbell but denied pressuring her.
鈥淚t was never intended to alter her testimony,鈥� Lundy said. 鈥淚 was there for her emotionally. It probably wasn鈥檛 the most professional thing for me to do, but, again, she called me every day for protection. We grew very close.鈥�
Following the dismissal of Sims鈥� conviction, interim East Cleveland Mayor Sandra Morgan said Lundy remained as East Cleveland鈥檚 interim police chief because, 鈥渉e is entitled to due process and a full investigation.鈥�
鈥淚 will need to carefully review these allegations before I take any action regarding Interim Chief Lundy,鈥� Morgan said.
Campbell鈥檚 attorney, Allison Hibbard, did not respond to a request for comment.
Campbell鈥檚 arraignment is scheduled for June 25th. Perjury is a felony, and she faces between 9 months and 3 years in prison.
