Herald-Star: Man has spent decades in prison for crime he says he didn’t commit

Ohio Innocence Project fights for man who's maintained innocence for more than two decades

The Ohio Innocence Project at the University of Cincinnati College of Law made headlines this month for its role in seeking to exonerate an Ohio man of aggravated robbery and kidnapping charges. The Herald Star reports on the case of David Rawls, 55, who was convicted in 1997 of robbing a discount drug store. Rawls has always maintained his innocence.

The Ohio Innocence Project has filed a motion to release records regarding fingerprint evidence. Rawls has been denied release at every one of his parole hearings. “He was denied because he will not admit to the crime,” said Donald Caster, an assistant professor of clinical law at UC and an attorney for the Ohio Innocence Project. “It takes someone very strong and serious about their principles to take a stand against the parole board and assert their innocence even if it could hurt their chances of being released.”

Read the story here.

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