Biography
Luxey Irvin, whose surname also appears as Irwin, was a Southern California Black Panther active in the children’s breakfast program. He was wounded and arrested in 1969 and prosecuted with Robert Williams and Romaine Fitzgerald. His confinement included the California Institution for Men at Chino and Deuel Vocational Institution. In 1971 he challenged his segregation at Deuel through habeas corpus; the appellate court dismissed that petition as moot after his transfer to Tehachapi.
The April 25, 1970 Black Panther reports that the jury convicted Robert Williams and Luxey Irwin (Irvin) of first-degree robbery, kidnapping and assault on April 3, 1970. It describes their prosecution with Romaine Fitzgerald and approximately half a year of pretrial custody. The newspaper's allegations of framing and mistreatment are the party's account, not independent judicial findings. April 3 dates the reported verdict, not a prison admission, sentence or release.
The issue reports ten counts against Luxey Irwin and Robert Williams involving attempted murder, felonious assault, robbery and kidnapping, with the party disputing the accusations. A letter signed by Irwin from jail describes his detention and alleged use of an informer. This predates the later verdict and does not establish a release or an additional custody term.
