Raphel Jerome Cherry (born December 19, 1961 in Little Rock, Arkansas) is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the Detroit Lions. He played college football at the University of Hawaii. In 1999, Cherry was convicted of first degree murder in the death of his wife. He was initially sentenced to life imprisonment, but upon appeal of his conviction, his sentence was reduced to 30 years. Cherry's estimated release date is January 9, 2029.