Gov. Cooper issues pardons of innocence to 5 inmates
RALEIGH (AP) North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced Thursday the pardons of five men convicted of crimes he believes they did not commit.
Among the prisoners is Ronnie Long, who spent 44 years in prison for a rape he says he did not commit. Long was freed in August. Cooper’s actions allow him and four other ex-convicts to apply for compensation of $50,000 a year up to $750,000 for their wrongful felony convictions.
“We must continue to work to reform our justice system and acknowledge when people have been wrongly convicted,” Cooper said in a statement. “I have carefully reviewed the facts in each of these cases and, while I cannot give these men back the time they served, I am granting them Pardons of Innocence in the hope that they might be better able to move forward in their lives.”
Gov. Cooper issues pardons of innocence to 5 inmates
By BRYAN ANDERSONDecember 17, 2020 GMT
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced Thursday the pardons of five men convicted of crimes he believes they did not commit.
Among the prisoners is Ronnie Long, who spent 44 years in prison for a rape he says he did not commit. Long was freed in August. Cooper’s actions allow him and four other ex-convicts to apply for compensation of $50,000 a year up to $750,000 for their wrongful felony convictions.
“We must continue to work to reform our justice system and acknowledge when people have been wrongly convicted,” Cooper said in a statement. “I have carefully reviewed the facts in each of these cases and, while I cannot give these men back the time they served, I am granting them Pardons of Innocence in the hope that they might be better able to move forward in their lives.”
Court: NC officers shortcut across yard soiled evidence greensboro.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from greensboro.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Court: Officers shortcut across yard soiled evidence
by Gary D. Robertson, The Associated Press
Posted Dec 15, 2020 3:37 pm EDT
Last Updated Dec 15, 2020 at 3:44 pm EDT
RALEIGH, N.C. Police unlawfully obtained evidence of drugs, a gun and counterfeit money at a North Carolina home because officers took a late-night shortcut through the suspect’s yard, instead of walking up the driveway, the state Court of Appeals ruled on Tuesday.
A three-judge panel ruled 2-1 that Gastonia officers lacking a search warrant crossed the line in December 2017 when they walked onto the front yard of Michael Shane Falls for up to 20 feet (6 metres) even though there was a “no trespassing” sign present. Wearing dark clothing, the officers then emerged through trees to speak to Falls before he could drive away.