Longest-Serving Exonerated Inmate to Get $7M

The city of Edmond, Oklahoma, has agreed to pay millions to exonerated former death row inmate Glynn Ray Simmons. The Edmond City Council unanimously decided on Monday to settle Simmons' lawsuit for $7.15 million. Simmons, now 71, spent almost five decades in prison for a crime he did not commit.

Simmons' attorney, Elizabeth Wang, said her client "spent a tragic amount of time incarcerated for a crime he did not commit. Although he will never get that time back, this settlement with Edmond will allow him to move forward." The lawsuit also alleges misconduct by Oklahoma City police, including falsified reports and withheld evidence that indicated a witness pointed to other suspects in the robbery and shooting; claims against Oklahoma City remain pending.

Simmons' conviction and sentence were vacated in July 2023, and he was officially exonerated in December. The court highlighted "clear and convincing evidence" of his innocence. Having served 48 years, one month, and 18 days, Simmons is the longest-imprisoned US inmate to be exonerated. He has also received $175,000 from the state for wrongful conviction. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)