Matthew Dorsey Is More Than a Case Number
Behind the legal documents and court transcripts is a real person — a son, a brother, and a human being who has spent nearly two decades locked away for a crime the alleged victim says never happened.
Who Is Matthew Dorsey?
Matthew B. Dorsey is a man from Smith County, Texas, whose life was irrevocably altered by a single night’s events and a justice system that failed him at every turn. Before his incarceration, Matthew was a member of his community with family and friends who cared about him deeply.
On the night of the incident, Matthew was involved in a police pursuit in Smith County. During the chase, DPS Trooper Robert Johnson positioned himself to intercept the vehicle. After Matthew’s car passed by, the trooper fired three shots at the vehicle. No contact between the vehicles occurred. No one was struck. No one was harmed.
Yet Matthew was charged with aggravated assault of a public servant — a first-degree felony in Texas — and the judge ultimately sentenced him to life in prison.
19 Years Behind Bars
Matthew has now spent more than 19 years in a Texas prison. That’s 19 years of missed birthdays, holidays, and life moments. 19 years of separation from his family. 19 years for an incident where the trooper himself told the court Matthew never attempted to harm him.
In those two decades, Matthew’s family has never stopped fighting for his freedom. They have exhausted traditional legal avenues, with appeals being denied because his trial attorney failed to properly raise the exculpatory evidence — the trooper’s own testimony — at the critical moments.
A Family’s Fight
Matthew’s family has been the driving force behind this campaign. They have spent years researching the legal proceedings, identifying the failures of his defense counsel, and building a case for why Matthew’s conviction should be overturned.
“We know Matthew didn’t commit the crime he’s been accused of. The trooper himself testified that Matthew didn’t try to harm him, yet he was still sentenced to life in prison. We’ve done everything we can to bring attention to this injustice, but the system continues to turn a blind eye. We need the public’s help now to bring Matthew the justice he deserves.”
— The Dorsey Family
Now, with the power of social media and public awareness, they are launching a renewed campaign to secure Matthew’s freedom. This website is the central hub of that effort.