Man wrongfully imprisoned for 44 years receives $25M

North Carolina man wrongfully imprisoned for 44 years .

In 1976, Ronnie Long faced a life sentence for a crime he didn’t commit, convicted by an all-white jury for raping Sarah Bost. Following his conviction, Long received an 80-year sentence for rape and first-degree burglary. Despite numerous appeals over decades and the emergence of DNA evidence supporting his innocence, he remained incarcerated.

In 2021, new evidence emerged, leading to Ronnie’s exoneration at 65. After a legal battle, the 68-year-old, promised justice to a ‘racist’ police officer on his first day in prison. He received the second-largest wrongful conviction settlement ever.

Concord agreed to pay $22m following a $3m settlement from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Ronnie fulfilled his promise to the ‘hillbilly Klan’ officer, who taunted him at Central Prison, stating, “If I come back, which I will, all I want you to do is be breathing. I’m going to take everything you’ve got for what you’re doing to me right now.”

Despite the officer’s disbelief, Ronnie’s victory demonstrates his commitment to justice, and the $25m settlement stands as a testament to the realness of his resolve. This triumph not only rights a historic wrong but also showcases Ronnie’s unwavering determination to reclaim his lost years and hold those responsible accountable.

The city publicly apologised to Long

a rare move that Sonya Pfeiffer, one of his civil attorneys, noted as part of the settlement terms. Pfeiffer mentioned that Long also received a private, direct apology, which held significant meaning. City spokeswoman Lindsay Manson stated, ‘The city of Concord acknowledges and takes responsibility for the serious errors and willful misconduct by past city employees that resulted in Long’s wrongful conviction and imprisonment.’ Long, convicted by an all-white jury at the age of 20 for the alleged rape of Sarah Judson Bost in 1976, was released in 2020 after his convictions were overturned.

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