Wrongly Convicted Man “Truly Happy” After 14 Years in Prison

An Alameda County judge has overturned the conviction of an East Oakland man who served 14 years in prison for an attempted rape he did not commit. He spoke publicly for the first time.

Through the use of DNA, a team lawyers and students were able to prove that the 37-year-old was not guilty. The evidence showed that the DNA found on a 9-year-old’s T-shirt did not belong to the man. It was the DNA that led to his arrest in 1998.

Despite having served more than a decade in prison, the now free man expresses an eagerness to learn from previous experiences. Among his future endeavors, are the obtain employment and going to school.

The California man is the second innocent person to be exonerated this year.