Clarence Moses-el exonerated after decades-long battle for justice and compensation

In a legal saga spanning over three decades, Clarence Moses-el, a man wrongfully convicted of a crime he did not commit, has finally received justice and a significant compensation payout after being acquitted of all charges.

Moses-el’s ordeal began in 1987 when he was sentenced to 48 years in prison based on the testimony of a woman who claimed to have identified him as her assailant in a dream. Despite maintaining his innocence, Moses-el spent 25 years behind bars until new evidence emerged that vindicated him.

The turning point came when Moses-el’s attorney uncovered crucial discrepancies in the case, including the mishandling and disposal of key physical evidence by the Denver police department. Despite these setbacks, Moses-el persisted in his fight for exoneration, eventually leading to a retrial in November 2016.

Following the retrial and the admission of another man to the assault, Moses-el was finally acquitted of all charges and released from prison. However, his battle for justice did not end there. He embarked on a legal crusade to seek compensation for the years of wrongful imprisonment he endured.

In a landmark decision, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser supported Moses-el’s petition for exoneration and accepted his right to compensation under a law passed in 2013. After nearly 30 years of legal battles, Moses-el was awarded a staggering $2,304,979 for the injustice he suffered.

Reflecting on his long-awaited victory, Moses-el expressed his gratitude and relief, stating that the compensation would allow him to regain aspects of his life that were unjustly taken from him. His story serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of fighting for truth and justice, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.