Wrongfully Convicted Man Declared Factually Innocent After 30 Years in Prison

Humberto Duran Declared Innocent

• 💡 After spending nearly 30 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, Humberto Duran has officially been declared innocent.
• 📌 The court had previously vacated Duran's conviction in the killing of Albert Gonzales, and this week, he formally became an innocent man.

Journey to Justice

• 🚀 Duran's case began in 1994 when he was found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to 25 years to life.
• 🤝 He and his sister reached out to multiple innocence projects, and in 2018, Megan Buckeye of California Innocence Advocates put him on the path to parole.
• 🔑 Key factors in his exoneration included the recantation by the sole witness and evidence proving Duran was not associated with the gang responsible for the murder.

Release and Civil Case

• 🗓️ Duran was paroled in August 2022 and released in early 2023, but he continued to seek official exoneration.
• ✅ Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman called the day of Duran's declaration of innocence a great day for justice.
• ⚖️ Duran is now pursuing a civil case, with a hearing on July 17th to determine compensation for his time spent incarcerated.