Texas Refuses To Pay Wrongfully Convicted Man, Garnishes His Wages Instead

Under Texas law, wrongfully convicted criminals are entitled to $80,000 for each year of mistaken incarceration. But a man who was locked away for 18 years after he was convicted of capital murder, and was released when a state court dropped the charges, is being stiffed.

A Dallas Morning News editorial reports the state added injury to insult by seizing a $250 check owed to him to make up for unpaid child support from 1998 to 2002 — a period in which he was behind bars.

The story reports the reason the state Comptroller denied the man’s wrongful conviction payment is because the court didn’t use the words “actual innocence” in its conviction order. The editorial concludes the state owes the man more than $1.4 million — which he’s suing to collect — and that he owes more than $5,000 in back child support for his now grown children.

Editorial: Graves should not have to accept an IOU on justice [Dallas Morning News via Fark]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.