Man freed after 28 years in jail, exonerated by DNA.
OAN’s Abril Elfi
12:09 PM – Wednesday, September 27, 2023
A California man who spent almost 30 years in prison for kidnapping, raping, and robbing a couple, has been released after he was cleared by DNA evidence.
On Tuesday, prosecutors in the Los Angeles county district announced the exoneration of Gerardo Cabanillas, who had been in prison for 28 years for allegedly robbing a man and kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman dating back to 1995.
Los Angeles County District George Gascón held a press conference where he said he has a deep sense of responsibility for the “tragic miscarriage of justice.”
“I stand here with you with a deep sense of responsibility as a district attorney to address a tragic miscarriage of justice and to celebrate the exoneration and release of prison of an innocent man,” Gascón said.
Reportedly, in January of 1995, a couple was robbed at gunpoint but two men and the woman were kidnapped and sexually assaulted.
According to Gascón, days after the incident, Cabanillas, who was 18-years-old at the time, was arrested because he generally matched the description of one of the suspects.
“Mr. Cabanillas always maintained that on the date of his arrest, he was coerced by the investigating detective into giving a false confession with a promise that he would be released on probation,” Gascón said.
He continued stating that even though there was no physical evidence tying the alleged suspect to the case, Cabanillas was arrested and charged with 14 felony counts.
According to the district attorney, Cabanillas’ lawyers from the California Innocence Project, a non-profit that works to liberate wrongfully convicted persons from prison, filed a motion in 2019 to have DNA evidence relating to the 1995 sexual assault victim analyzed.
He then stated that none of the DNA samples matched Cabanillas.
“After a thorough review of all the evidence, including expert analysis of the purported confession and an interview with the sexual assault victim, we lost confident in the conviction in this case,” Gascón said.
According to the district attorney’s office, Cabanillas was conditionally released from a prison in May. On September 21st, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge overturned his conviction and pronounced him factually innocent.
Reportedly, authorities have identified a new suspect using the DNA and he is now in custody in connection to a different killing.
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How did DNA evidence play a role in overturning Gerardo Cabanillas’ conviction?
DNA Conviction Overturned: California Man Released After 30 Years in Prison
On Tuesday, September 26, 2023, Gerardo Cabanillas was finally released from prison after spending almost 30 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit. Cabanillas had been convicted of kidnapping, raping, and robbing a couple back in 1995, but was recently exonerated by DNA evidence.
The Los Angeles county district prosecutors announced the exoneration, highlighting the tragic miscarriage of justice that took place. District attorney George Gascón expressed his deep sense of responsibility during a press conference held on the same day. He acknowledged the wrongful conviction and celebrated Cabanillas’ release, emphasizing the importance of addressing such mistakes made by the criminal justice system.
According to reports, in January 1995, a couple was robbed at gunpoint and the woman was sexually assaulted. Cabanillas, who was just 18 years old at the time, was arrested a few days later as he generally matched the description of one of the suspects. He has always maintained his innocence, claiming that he was coerced into giving a false confession by the investigating detective, who promised him probation in return.
Despite a lack of physical evidence connecting Cabanillas to the crime, he was charged with 14 felony counts and subsequently convicted. However, his lawyers from the California Innocence Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to liberating wrongfully convicted individuals, filed a motion in 2019 to have DNA evidence analyzed. Surprisingly, none of the DNA samples collected matched Cabanillas.
After a thorough review of all the evidence, including expert analysis of the supposed confession and an interview with the sexual assault victim, the district attorney’s office lost confidence in the conviction. As a result, Cabanillas was conditionally released from prison in May and, on September 21st, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge officially overturned his conviction, pronouncing him factually innocent.
This case serves as a glaring reminder of the flaws present within the criminal justice system and the potential for innocent individuals to be wrongfully convicted. It is an example of the power of DNA evidence in both exonerating the innocent and bringing about justice.
While Cabanillas has finally regained his freedom, the almost three decades he lost cannot be recovered. His story underscores the need for comprehensive reform in our legal system to prevent such devastating injustices from occurring in the future. It is essential that we continue to advocate for the rights of the wrongfully convicted, ensuring that their voices are heard and their innocence is recognized.
In conclusion, the exoneration of Gerardo Cabanillas serves as a compelling example of the importance of DNA evidence in rectifying wrongful convictions. It is a reminder that the quest for justice must never falter, and that the truth can prevail even after decades of painful and unjust imprisonment. Let us use this case as motivation to strive for a legal system that upholds the principles of fairness, integrity, and truth.
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