Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(135,193 posts)
Mon Mar 16, 2026, 08:44 PM 12 hrs ago

New York man freed after 19 years in prison for robbery he didn't commit

Source: AP

NEW YORK (AP) — A man who spent nearly two decades in prison for a roughly $550 robbery was exonerated and freed Monday, after prosecutors said they now agree he didn't commit the crime.

“It cost me 20 years, but they said they corrected it now. So that's all that matters. So I’m good with that,” Kenneth Windley, 61, said as he left a Brooklyn courthouse, at liberty for the first time since 2007.

A judge threw out his conviction and dismissed his case entirely, at the request of both prosecutors and Windley's lawyers. Prosecutors said new evidence — including confessions from two other men who were convicted of similar robberies — supported his longstanding claim of innocence.

“This case is really a cautionary tale of how things can seem one way but, without careful analysis, not be what it purports to be," Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, a Democrat, said after shaking Windley's hand outside court.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/york-man-freed-19-years-205247012.html



Even if he had done it 19 years seems a bit excessive for a $550 robbery.
7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
New York man freed after 19 years in prison for robbery he didn't commit (Original Post) Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin 12 hrs ago OP
More than a bit excessive Cirsium 12 hrs ago #1
good for Kenneth DoBW 11 hrs ago #2
Kenneth Windley FakeNoose 11 hrs ago #3
19 years was an insane sentence for robbery PatSeg 10 hrs ago #4
19 years? ...and many of Trump's Boys and Girls are robbing the taxpayers as we speak. chouchou 10 hrs ago #5
It seems when this happens, they are so scared about going back that they act like they are grateful. C Moon 7 hrs ago #6
19 years for robbery? People have gotten less oasis 26 min ago #7

Cirsium

(3,875 posts)
1. More than a bit excessive
Mon Mar 16, 2026, 09:07 PM
12 hrs ago

Criming while Black, or in this case looking sorta like someone criming while Black.

"Looking sorta like" means just living while Black.

PatSeg

(53,170 posts)
4. 19 years was an insane sentence for robbery
Mon Mar 16, 2026, 10:33 PM
10 hrs ago

This country has a real incarceration problem. If he is being let out now, I wonder how long the original sentence was. That would be extremely excessive even if he WAS guilty.

There are so many ways to hold people accountable, but incarceration should be reserved to violent criminals and unrepentant repeat offenders.

chouchou

(3,110 posts)
5. 19 years? ...and many of Trump's Boys and Girls are robbing the taxpayers as we speak.
Mon Mar 16, 2026, 10:50 PM
10 hrs ago

Call me pissed off to infinity.

C Moon

(13,611 posts)
6. It seems when this happens, they are so scared about going back that they act like they are grateful.
Tue Mar 17, 2026, 01:50 AM
7 hrs ago

Very sad.
20 years of his life lost.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»New York man freed after ...