Florida Frees Exonerated Man After 22 Years, But Leaves Him With Nothing

[Judi Lynn]

Florida Frees Exonerated Man After 22 Years, But Leaves Him With Nothing

Published on 9/13/2004

Port St. John, Fla. — A man who was freed after serving 22 years for a rape he didn't commit walked out of jail with a few possessions in a plastic bag, and nothing else. Wilton A. Dedge, 42, didn't get the $100 that Florida gives even its most vicious ex-cons when he was released last month. He didn't get the counseling or job referrals or temporary housing the state offers paroled murderers and rapists. He didn't even get a bus ticket home. There was no compensation for the prison term Dedge received after a 17-year-old rape victim mistakenly identified him as her attacker. DNA testing proved his innocence. Because Florida has no wrongful-conviction compensation law, Dedge will have to sue the state or persuade a state legislator to sponsor a private-claims bill if he hopes to gain any state money. Only 18 states and the federal government provide some compensation to those falsely imprisoned.
(snip/)

http://www.theday.com/eng/web/news/re.aspx?re=80D55CC1-E19A-4171-BEA3-219423E5A3A1
(Extremely short article)

[Dogmudgeon]

1. I don't understand ...

The conservatives have been telling us that if you are convicted of a violent crime, you get less than 20 years, and you're out in 7, all because of them Libbrul judges.

What happened here?

--bkl

[Guy_Montag]

2. Probably refused to admit he did it...

tends to lead to longer sentances over here.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Longer article clears up obnoxious conclusions some have reached

about this man:

Wrongly-Convicted Man Freed After 22 Years With Nothing

POSTED: 7:14 am EDT September 13, 2004


.......There was no compensation for the prison term Dedge received after a 17-year-old rape victim mistakenly identified him as her attacker. DNA testing proved his innocence.
(snip)

Because Florida has no wrongful-conviction compensation law, Dedge will have to sue the state or persuade a state legislator to sponsor a private-claims bill if he hopes to gain any state money.

Only 18 states and the federal government provide some compensation to those falsely imprisoned.

Still, Dedge has received cards, cash, a computer, free dental care and at least five job offers from friends and strangers, his mother said.

But he said he spends his nights lying awake.

"My mind just jumps left and right, thinking about the people I was with in prison and things I need to do," Dedge told the Orlando Sentinel. "I'm trying to get a normal life, but I really haven't had time to spend with myself."
(snip/)

http://www.news4jax.com/news/3724973/detail.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He sounds as if he's been living on adrenalin all that time, is exhausted mentally, spiritually, emotionally: like someone who hasn't had rest for a very long time.

I hope he can adjust to the time left him and refocus.

[prolesunited]

4. At least they hadn't

sentenced him to the death penalty and already executed him.

[rpannier]

5. He should be grateful...

he didn't live in Texas under scrubbies watch -- He'd probably be dead by now.

[sui generis]

6. If the state stole 22 years of my life

you can be sure I would find a way to make them pay. That's 22 years of being unable to work on a retirement plan, of lost freedoms (in America, the "land of the free") and not getting to have a family or watch your children grow up, and of being relegated to poverty for what's left of the rest of your natural life.

[AspenRose]

7. Doubt he'll be able to vote, either

even though he's innocent. I mean come on, it's Florida.

Bastards.

[MidwestTransplant]

8. See, the system works.

Sarcasm

[soup]

9. Read the comments at TalkLeft

by Lady Builder. Here's a snip:

>>
As a close family friend & former girlfriend of Wilton Dedge's I am compelled to add my comments & clarify a few issues raised by others.

First & foremost - Wilton is not a violent man - and, by the Grace of God, after 22 years in prison, he still isn't. Wilton is a somewhat shy, soft spoken, respectful, gentle & affectionate man. And while anger at his situation & the actions of others, namely the prosecuters who employed numerous reprehensible tactics to "win" thier case, is normal, he would never even consider beating the sh^t out of them, for it would solve nothing & would in no way improve his circumstances.

Secondly - he is not a lowlife, and I take exception to consious angel's inferences that he wouldn't have gotten arrested in the first place if he was Mr. Straight & Narrow. Consious angel did note that he/she could not read the article, so I'll chalk that comment up to ignorance of the facts.

One of the facts is that Wilton went down to the police station when he learned the police were looking for him, to clear up what he thought was a misunderstanding. <<
http://talkleft.com/new_archives/007550.html

22 years. :-( :grr:

[DulceDecorum]

10. We could charge him for room & board

like they do in Britain.
http://www.rense.com/general50/25yt.htm

After all, Justice Scalia says that innocence is irrelevant
and if the proper legal channels were followed
then you should have to serve the entire sentence just like the judge said.

(Flame him, not me.)