Saturday, November 11, 2006

Man Cleared by DNA Awarded $450,000

Personal Injury: Texas has awarded more than $450,000 to a man who was exonerated by DNA evidence after spending 18 years in prison for a sexual assault conviction.

Arthur Mumphrey was released from prison in January after his lawyer found DNA evidence clearing him in the rape of a 13-year-old girl. Mumphrey had been sentenced in 1986 to 35 years in prison.

Gov. Rick Perry pardoned Mumphrey in March, clearing his record and making him eligible for compensation. Under state law, a person pardoned based on innocence is eligible for up to $25,000 for each year in prison with a cap at $500,000.

Mumphrey recently got his first payment of $226,041, according to the Texas Comptroller's Office. An official there said Mumphrey will have to report the compensation to the Internal Revenue Service. It will be up to tax officials to decide if and how much he will be taxed.

Mumphrey, who was 42 when he was released, declined to talk about his plans for the money.

His brother, Charles, confessed to the rape while serving time in jail for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, shortly after his brother's release. No criminal charges will be filed against Charles Mumphrey because the statute of limitations has expired, prosecutors said.

No comments: