The state of Michigan has agreed to pay $1.75 million to Louis Wright, a man who was wrongfully imprisoned for 35 years. Wright, who was convicted of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl in 1988 in Albion, Michigan, was exonerated in November following DNA tests that proved his innocence.
Wright’s wrongful conviction stemmed from a flawed police investigation in 1988. An off-duty officer mistakenly identified Wright as being in the vicinity of the crime, and despite a lack of solid evidence, Wright was charged. His confession, claimed by the police, was never recorded or signed. Notably, the victim did not identify Wright as the perpetrator, according to the Cooley Law School Innocence Project.
Compounding the injustice, Wright had pleaded no-contest to the charges and later unsuccessfully attempted to withdraw his plea. Despite being eligible for parole since 2008, Wright remained in prison, refusing to partake in a sex offender therapy program, a prerequisite for his release, because he maintained his innocence.
Michigan law allows exonerated individuals to receive $50,000 for each year spent in prison. The quick agreement by the attorney general’s office to compensate Wright is a notable aspect of this case, reflecting the clear evidence of his wrongful conviction.
Wright’s attorney, Wolf Mueller, commented on the settlement: “Nothing can make up for 35 years in a Michigan prison for something he did not do. This is a first step toward getting Louis’ life back at the age of 65.”
In addition to the settlement, Mueller has filed a separate lawsuit against the police, seeking over $100 million for violating Wright’s rights during the 1988 investigation.
