Fla. Man To Be Released From Prison Thanks To DNA (28 years served)

[The Straight Story]

Fla. Man To Be Released From Prison Thanks To DNA

POSTED: 6:23 am EST January 23, 2006
UPDATED: 7:06 am EST January 23, 2006

TAMPA, Fla. -- A Saint Petersburg man who has spent more than two decades in prison for rape and robbery is expected to be freed Monday after DNA evidence exonerated him.

Alan Crotzer, 45, was convicted in 1982 to 130 years in prison. Crotzer and two brothers were charged with robbing a Tampa family in 1981. Crotzer and one of the brothers also were convicted of kidnapping and raping a 38-year-old woman and a 12-year-old girl at gunpoint.

A victim picked Crotzer out of a lineup but one of the brothers said Crotzer was innocent. He said he and his brother were the rapists and a long-time childhood friend was their accomplice.

http://www.local6.com/news/6359697/detail.html

[Horse with no Name]

1. I guess better late than never

Good thing for Mr. Crotzer that this wasn't a death penalty case.
I wish him luck, but after serving 28 years in prison, I fear he will have an institutionalized mentality.
I would think that the penal system in Florida could do just a bit more than find this man shelter.
They owe him a life.

[The Straight Story]

2. This made it even worse IMHO:

"A victim picked Crotzer out of a lineup but one of the brothers said Crotzer was innocent. He said he and his brother were the rapists and a long-time childhood friend was their accomplice."

[bluestateguy]

3. Does Florida have a wrongful conviction statute?

In some states he would make out very well, but in others he would get a new suit, $200 and an "oops, uh, sorry" from the state. I don't know what Florida's deal is.

If it were up to me, he should never have to work again. This man should be able to enjoy life 24 hours a day without haveing to worry about paying the bills and making a living. It would be another travesty if he has to flip burgers or stock shelves at Wal-Mart to get by every day.

[bothwell]

4. Question

In cases like this here in the UK (Birmingham 6 etc) the government pays out compensation, who pays in this case, the State or some National body, does the guy have to sue or is he given automatic compensation. is it the case as is implied in an earlier post that some states grant no compensation in these cases???

[The Straight Story]

5. Maybe in cases like this he gets $$ from the prosecutor

and or his family, and they have to switch places. Would make a great reality show on fox at any rate: Freedom swap, watch as the innoncent go free and jump into the life of the person who rail roaded them there and see how the prosecutor adjusts to his new life inside.