Oklahoma Man Wrongfully Imprisoned for 50 Years Declared Innocent by Judge

An Oklahoma judge officially declared Glynn Simmons, aged 71, innocent after he spent nearly 50 years incarcerated for a murder he didn’t commit, making him the longest-serving inmate exonerated in the U.S. justice system. Released in July, Simmons faced a conviction based on flawed evidence that was never disclosed to his defense team.

(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Longest-Serving Exoneree Declared Innocent by Oklahoma Judge

District Judge Amy Palumbo stated in her ruling that there was clear and convincing evidence proving Simmons’ innocence in the crime he was convicted of committing. Having served 48 years, one month, and 18 days, Simmons emerged as the longest-serving exoneree in the National Registry of Exonerations.

Simmons expressed his sense of vindication following the ruling, acknowledging his immense resilience and unwavering belief in his innocence throughout his wrongful imprisonment, even enduring a death row sentence initially. He emphasized the importance of not dismissing the possibility of exoneration, highlighting the significance of hope and perseverance.

His consistent claim of innocence centered on his location in Louisiana during the 1974 murder in Edmond, Oklahoma, for which he was wrongly convicted alongside co-defendant Don Roberts. Their sentences, initially death penalties, were commuted to life imprisonment in 1977 following Supreme Court rulings on capital punishment. Roberts was released on parole in 2008.

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Oklahoma Judge’s Ruling Frees Longest-Serving Exoneree

Judge Palumbo’s order for a new trial stemmed from the prosecutor’s admission of evidence suppression, including a crucial police report suggesting alternate suspects, reinforcing Simmons’ claim of innocence. Despite the lack of physical evidence, the district attorney announced she wouldn’t seek a retrial but contested the declaration of his actual innocence.

The ruling potentially entitles Simmons to $175,000 in compensation for his wrongful conviction. However, any financial relief may take years, leaving Simmons reliant on donations as he grapples with cancer post-release. His defense attorney anticipates pursuing a federal lawsuit against law enforcement and the city, seeking accountability for Simmons’ unjust arrest and conviction.

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