North Carolina Man to Receive Innocence Hearing After Serving 24 Years

July 12, 2012

A man from Hickory, North Carolina, was released from prison recently after serving more than 24 years for a crime he has always maintained he did not commit.

Now 65 years old, Willie Grimes was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 1988 for the rape of a 69-year-old woman. In April 2012, however, the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission decided unanimously that there is enough credible evidence of his innocence to warrant a review of his conviction by a three-judge panel later this year. If all three judges agree that Grimes is innocent, his conviction will be reversed.

Grimes was originally arrested after voluntarily traveling by foot to police headquarters in 1987, having heard that he was wanted for questioning. In a report on wcnc.com, Grimes is quoted as saying that he believed he "would be ok" because he knew he was innocent, and because several friends testified that they had been with him at the time the rape occurred.

Although ultimately convicted, Grimes has consistently maintained his innocence, and has even turned down opportunities to secure an early release by participating in programs that would have required him to admit guilt and express remorse for the alleged crime.

While considering whether to grant the innocence hearing, the Commission evaluated evidence that had been excluded from the original trial, including fingerprints found at the crime scene that matched another man originally suspected in the case. The fingerprints were found on fruit that the victim reported had been handled by the rapist, but were not presented at trial. Although the victim originally identified Grimes in a photo lineup, she was later indecisive when asked to identify him in court, and his fingerprints were never found at the scene. The victim in the case has since died.

Grimes was released from prison in May 2012 to await his innocence hearing, but for now is still considered a convicted rapist and was required to register with the state as a sex offender. For people facing criminal charges in North Carolina, it is extremely important to seek help from an experienced criminal defense attorney right away. A knowledgeable attorney will work hard to make sure your rights are protected and will fight to secure the best possible outcome.

Article provided by Sherrill & Cameron PLLC
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