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Texas inmate is exonerated after spending nearly 34 years in prison for wrongful conviction (apnews.com)
submitted 2 months ago by girlfreddy@lemmy.ca to c/news@lemmy.world
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A Texas man who spent 34 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of aggravated assault was exonerated Thursday by a Dallas County judge who ruled that he is actually innocent.

The judge approved a motion by the Dallas County District Attorney’s office to dismiss the case against Benjamin Spencer, 59, who was initially convicted in 1987 of murder in the carjacking and death of Jeffrey Young.

“This day has been a long time coming. I am relieved and humbled to help correct this injustice,” said Dallas County Criminal District Attorney John Creuzot.

Spencer, who has maintained his innocence, saw his 1987 conviction later overturned. He was then tried again and convicted and sentenced to life in prison for aggravated robbery of Young.

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[-] KoboldCoterie@pawb.social 48 points 2 months ago

“This day has been a long time coming. I am relieved and humbled to help correct this injustice,” said Dallas County Criminal District Attorney John Creuzot.

The guy's 59, he's been in prison for most of his adult life. He likely has no house, no savings, no family. While it's obviously great that he was released, he ought to be given a sizable pension for the rest of his life at the very least... I don't know what actually happens in cases like this, but if he's just released without being given some kind of major compensation for the wrongful imprisonment, the injustice isn't being corrected at all.

[-] MegaUltraChicken@lemmy.world 32 points 2 months ago

It's Texas, I'd be surprised if they gave him a bus ticket after he got out.

[-] Xtallll@lemmy.blahaj.zone 38 points 2 months ago

Immediately arrested for being homeless.

[-] homura1650@lemmy.world 15 points 2 months ago

He is entitled to $80,000 per year imprisoned; payable as a lump sum of $2,720,000 or as a lifetime annuity at the same present value as the lump sum payment. I don't know exactly what the state sponsored annuity would pay, but a quick estimate from schwab estimates it at $15,483/month.

That still doesn't pay for 34 years in prison. However, it is a respectable retirement.

[-] dutchkimble@lemy.lol 3 points 2 months ago

It gave the details though?

[-] KoboldCoterie@pawb.social 3 points 2 months ago

I... don't think it did? Are we reading the same article? Heh

[-] dutchkimble@lemy.lol 5 points 2 months ago

They have some ads/related articles in the middle and it continues below it. Bad layout planning by sites…

[-] KoboldCoterie@pawb.social 4 points 2 months ago

Ah! You are correct; I completely missed that.

[-] Cosmonauticus@lemmy.world 37 points 2 months ago

Yet ppl still support the death penalty

[-] School_Lunch@lemmy.world 19 points 2 months ago

People always point to the worst of the worst to justify the death penalty, but it's not about them. It's about us. I just picture people who support the death penalty the same as medieval peasants cheering on the gruesome torture and execution of a criminal like its some kind of entertainment. People need to do more introspection about what part of their personality they are feeding when they give in to the desire for vengeance. That's not even taking into account that no justice system is perfect.

[-] Xtallll@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 months ago

The death penalty should be exclusively for white collar crime, with a solid paper trail.

[-] agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works 17 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I don't oppose the death penalty because I don't think some crimes are heinous enough to deserve it, I oppose the death penalty because I don't trust the justice system to not make mistakes.

[-] Roflmasterbigpimp@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

Absolute! The Justice System NEEDS to be able to correct itself.

[-] tacosanonymous@lemm.ee 24 points 2 months ago

Abbot is still prolly going to try and execute him.

[-] Sir_Kevin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 points 2 months ago

He should be awarded 100K for each year spent in prison and an additional million just because.

[-] chiliedogg@lemmy.world 25 points 2 months ago

Fuck that.

Let's look at minimum wage at the time he was imprisoned: $3.35/hour. Make that his wage the entire time he was in prison. After the first 40 hours a week he'd get OT, so it comes out to about $3,300/month. Since he wasn't able to spend that money, let's put a monthly payment into the market, with an average return of 7%...

That would put him at $6,587,619.39 at the end of 37 years if we value his freedom at the 1987 minimum wage.

That should be the opening bid from he state.

[-] Sir_Kevin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 2 months ago

I like that logic

[-] seang96@spgrn.com 12 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Good news sorta

Under Texas law, he is eligible for a lump sum payment of up to $80,000 for each year he was incarcerated and an annuity, Wattley said.

I figured Texas would tell him to gtfo

[-] Sir_Kevin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 2 months ago

That is surprising. I'm glad he's getting a payday.

[-] lone_faerie@lemmy.blahaj.zone 12 points 2 months ago

I'll bet every dollar to my name that Ken Paxton will attempt to overturn this

[-] Protoknuckles@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago

He should get to commit a crime with a 34 year sentence. As a treat.

[-] sudo@lemmy.today 5 points 2 months ago

Only cops get that perk.

[-] dutchkimble@lemy.lol 3 points 2 months ago

Or he should be allowed to knock off a total of 34 years from sentences of people of his choosing.

[-] sucoiri@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

There's a short story with the exact same premise https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_in_Advance

this post was submitted on 29 Aug 2024
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