Innocent man exonerated of rape he didn’t commit after 16 years in prison

A Los Angeles Superior Court Judge, William Ryan, has overturned the conviction of a man who spent 16 years in prison for sexual assaults that DNA evidence later proved he didn’t commit. The man named Luis Vargas broke down in tears as the judge ordered the case dismissed after new DNA evidence linked the crime to a serial attacker on the FBI’s Most Wanted list.

Luis Vargas had been in prison for crimes he didn’t commit since 1999 and was serving a sentence of 55 years to life for three sexual assaults he didn’t commit. When the verdict was announced & he was declared innocent, he placed his hand to his forehead, covered his eyes and shed some tears as he was finally free of the shame. His mother & daughter were present in court.

However, Vargas is not a free man yet because of his immigration status. He has been taken into federal custody until his green card can be restored.