Larry Sims’s rape conviction was overturned last year after serving more than 24 years in prison for a crime that most likely never happened. But what he really wanted was to be declared actually innocent. Sadly, Sims died earlier this month at the age of 62. Still, says the Star-Telegram, the Dallas District Attorney’s Office should fully exonerate him.
Sims was convicted of rape in 1986. Twenty-four years later DNA evidence proved that the victim lied when she denied having sex with anyone else on the night of the alleged crime. In addition, the victim offered to drop the charges against Sims if his cousin gave her crack cocaine which she had also smoked on the night of the alleged crime.
Sims was released in 2011 after a judge found that with the DNA evidence, Sims would not have been convicted. However, the judge did not declare Sims innocent. The Dallas District Attorney’s office issued a statement to the Star-Telegram saying, “After Mr. Sims’ conviction was vacated in October of 2011, the Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) dismissed the case against him. The CIU continued its investigation of his claim of actual innocence in conjunction with his counsel. We send our condolences to his family.”
Sims was buried earlier this month near the grave of his mother who died while he was in prison.
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