Glynn Simmons, 71, who was released in July after prosecutors agreed that key evidence in his case was not turned over to his defense lawyers, was ruled innocent Tuesday.

“This court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the offense for which Mr. Simmons was convicted, sentenced and imprisoned… was not committed by Mr. Simmons,” according to the ruling by Oklahoma County District Judge Amy Palumbo.

The ruling makes Simmons eligible for up to $175,000 in compensation from the state for wrongful conviction and opens the door for a federal lawsuit against Oklahoma City and law enforcement involved in Simmons’ arrest and conviction, defense attorney Joe Norwood said Wednesday.

Compensation, though, is likely years away, Norwood said and Simmons is currently living on donations while undergoing treatment for cancer that was detected after his release from prison.

“Glynn is having to live off of GoFundMe, that’s literally how the man is surviving right now, paying rent, buying food,” Norwood said. “Getting him compensation, and getting compensation is not for sure, is in the future and he has to sustain himself now.”

      • CADmonkey@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        We have very lax medical marijuana laws, a dispensary on every corner, and cheap weed.

        We sure do have a lot of willfully stupid people, though.

        • Got_Bent@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          It would be nice if you’d amend those lax medical marijuana laws to allow us Texas residents in on the deal.

          • CADmonkey@lemmy.world
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            11 months ago

            Nope. You guys have been telling us how much better you are since 1909. You get your own weed. 🤣

        • Atom@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          Not really, just decent ranching land mainly. There’s a reason the US was willing to briefly give it away to the Native Americans.

    • Duranie@literature.cafe
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      11 months ago

      A while back I had a cousin living in Oklahoma. He had some troubles and was hanging out with some not great people. An acquaintance’s gf/wife ended up dead and the guy pointed his finger at my cousin. He was held in jail charged with murder, but all his hearings kept getting kicked down the road. After a year they released him and told him to GTFO of the state and never return.

      • A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        Which, to me, screams that they found evidence he didnt do it, but didnt want to invest money in a trial to prove his innocence, or on finding the actual suspect.

    • penquin@lemm.ee
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      11 months ago

      I’ve lived there, and it sucked ass. I ran away from that shit State