California Man Awarded $25 Million After 38 Years Wrongfully Imprisoned
BREAKING: A California man, Maurice Hastings, has been awarded $25 million in what is being described as the largest wrongful conviction settlement in state history. The settlement, reached in August 2023, comes after Hastings spent 38 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.
Hastings, now 72, was wrongfully convicted in the 1983 sexual assault and murder of Roberta Wydermyer. Court documents reveal that Hastings was sentenced to life in prison without parole, accused of a crime he did not commit. His legal team claims he was framed by officers from the Inglewood Police Department and an investigator from the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office.
“No amount of money could ever restore the 38 years of my life that were stolen from me,” Hastings said in a powerful statement. “But this settlement is a welcome end to a very long road, and I look forward to moving on with my life.”
The settlement marks a significant milestone in Hastings’ long battle for justice. For decades, he maintained his innocence, but initial attempts for DNA testing were dismissed by the District Attorney’s office in 2000. In 2021, Hastings submitted a claim of innocence to the DA’s Conviction Integrity Unit, leading to new DNA testing that ultimately proved he was not the perpetrator.
In 2022, his conviction was vacated following a request from prosecutors, and subsequent DNA evidence matched the semen found at the crime scene to Kenneth Packnett, a man later convicted of a separate crime. Packnett’s arrest had occurred just weeks after Wydermyer’s murder, but he was not investigated for her killing at that time. He died in prison in 2020.
A California judge ruled in 2023 that Hastings was “factually innocent,” confirming the evidence conclusively proved he did not commit the crime. Hastings has since relocated to Southern California, where he is actively involved in his church community.
The implications of this case reach far beyond Hastings’ personal story. “Police departments throughout California and across the country should take notice that there is a steep price to pay for allowing such egregious misconduct on their watch,” stated Nick Brustin, Hastings’ attorney.
As this story continues to unfold, many are left wondering how many more individuals may be wrongfully convicted and how justice can truly be served. This landmark settlement not only provides Hastings with a measure of justice but also highlights the urgent need for reform within the criminal justice system.
Join the conversation on social media as this unprecedented settlement continues to gain attention. Share the story and raise awareness about wrongful convictions and the impact they have on lives.
