Close Menu
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Relationships
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Celebrity Kids
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
  • Disclaimer
  • About us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contribute & Advertise with Us
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest Vimeo
GistFestGistFest
  • Entertainment

    Exes Megan Fox and MGK Unveil Their Baby Girl’s Name Following ‘Celestial Seed’ Mix-Up

    June 20, 2025

    Jessica Alba Paid Tribute to Estranged Husband Cash Warren on First Father’s Day After Their Split

    June 19, 2025

    King Charles’ Father’s Day Message 2025: Subtle Nod to Prince Harry Sparks Speculation of Royal Reconciliation

    June 18, 2025

    Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom Facing Turbulent Times in Their Relationship

    June 17, 2025

    Teyana Taylor and Aaron Pierre Make Romance Official with a Kiss During His 31st Birthday Celebration

    June 16, 2025
  • Lifestyle

    Exes Megan Fox and MGK Unveil Their Baby Girl’s Name Following ‘Celestial Seed’ Mix-Up

    June 20, 2025

    Jessica Alba Paid Tribute to Estranged Husband Cash Warren on First Father’s Day After Their Split

    June 19, 2025

    King Charles’ Father’s Day Message 2025: Subtle Nod to Prince Harry Sparks Speculation of Royal Reconciliation

    June 18, 2025

    Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom Facing Turbulent Times in Their Relationship

    June 17, 2025

    Teyana Taylor and Aaron Pierre Make Romance Official with a Kiss During His 31st Birthday Celebration

    June 16, 2025
  • Relationships

    Exes Megan Fox and MGK Unveil Their Baby Girl’s Name Following ‘Celestial Seed’ Mix-Up

    June 20, 2025

    Jessica Alba Paid Tribute to Estranged Husband Cash Warren on First Father’s Day After Their Split

    June 19, 2025

    King Charles’ Father’s Day Message 2025: Subtle Nod to Prince Harry Sparks Speculation of Royal Reconciliation

    June 18, 2025

    Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom Facing Turbulent Times in Their Relationship

    June 17, 2025

    Teyana Taylor and Aaron Pierre Make Romance Official with a Kiss During His 31st Birthday Celebration

    June 16, 2025
  • Tips & Tricks

    Exes Megan Fox and MGK Unveil Their Baby Girl’s Name Following ‘Celestial Seed’ Mix-Up

    June 20, 2025

    Jessica Alba Paid Tribute to Estranged Husband Cash Warren on First Father’s Day After Their Split

    June 19, 2025

    King Charles’ Father’s Day Message 2025: Subtle Nod to Prince Harry Sparks Speculation of Royal Reconciliation

    June 18, 2025

    Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom Facing Turbulent Times in Their Relationship

    June 17, 2025

    Teyana Taylor and Aaron Pierre Make Romance Official with a Kiss During His 31st Birthday Celebration

    June 16, 2025
  • Celebrity Kids

    Exes Megan Fox and MGK Unveil Their Baby Girl’s Name Following ‘Celestial Seed’ Mix-Up

    June 20, 2025

    DDG Files Restraining Order Against Halle Bailey

    June 10, 2025

    Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s Divorce Timeline

    June 2, 2025

    Meryl Streep’s Daughter Louisa Jacobson Shares Her and Partner, Anna Blundell’s Plans for Valentine’s Day

    February 14, 2025

    Brenda Song and Macaulay Culkin’s Son’s Name Revealed

    January 12, 2025
Subscribe
GistFestGistFest
Home » Black Man Exonerated After Spending 44 Years in Prison Receives $25 Million Settlement
News

Black Man Exonerated After Spending 44 Years in Prison Receives $25 Million Settlement

FeyisayoBy FeyisayoJanuary 17, 20244 Mins Read
Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Reddit Telegram Email
Black Man Exonerated After Spending 44 Years in Prison Receives $25 Million Settlement
Source: Essence
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
Black Man Exonerated After Spending 44 Years in Prison Receives $25 Million Settlement
Source: Essence

It was victory at last for 68-year-old Ronnie Long who, who got a $25 million settlement more than three years after a court exonerated him.  The North Carolina man spent 44 years in prison after a court wrongfully convicted him of rape. 

As a black man, all odds were against him from the start. An all-white jury convicted him on October 1st, 1976, after they accused him of raping a white woman. He was only 21 years old when they sentenced him to life in prison. 

However, Long did not commit this crime, and there were a lot of things wrong with his case. First, his jury selection was flawed. The chief of police and the sheriff removed the black potential jurors from his case. 

Second, there was no physical evidence typing along to the rape and burglary. Also, he did not match the initial description of the suspect, who was a “yellow or really light-skinned Black male.” Furthermore, the victim did a rape kit which they ‘lost,’ and never found it again. 

ALSO READ: Jury Finds Tacoma Police Officers Not Guilty of 2020 Death of Black Man in Police Custody

The only piece of evidence the prosecution has against Long was the victim identifying him many weeks after the attack. According to his lawyers, this was “the product of a suggestive identification procedure arranged by the police to target Long.”

There were also many pieces of evidence from the scene, including the suspect’s hair and 43 fingerprints, but none of them belonged to Long. His attorneys also accused Concord police officers of giving false testimony about the evidence at Long’s trial. 

Thanks to their persistence, they got Long’s case back in court and fought for his exoneration. According to Duke Law School’s Wrongful Convictions Clinic, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation previously settled for $3 million. After that, he settled his civil lawsuit with Concord City for a historic $22 million. 

POLL—Should Public Schools Include Critical Race Theory and Sex Education in Their Curriculum?

That makes a total of $25 million for Long and a great step in the direction of justice. According to his criminal attorney, Jamie Lau, this is a “big step forward” for Long. “It’s, obviously, a celebratory day today, knowing that Ronnie’s going to have his means met for the rest of his life with this settlement.

It’s been a long road to get to this point, so that’s a great outcome,” he said. The city also issued a very rare apology to Long. “We are deeply remorseful for the past wrongs that caused tremendous harm to Mr. Long, his family, friends, and our community.

Mr. Long suffered the extraordinary loss of his freedom and a substantial portion of his life because of this conviction. He wrongly served 44 years, three months, and 17 days in prison for a crime he did not commit,” the apology read. 

ALSO READ: US Army Corrects Records of Black Soldiers Wrongfully Hanged in 1917

“While there are no measures to fully restore to Mr. Long and his family all that was taken from them, through this agreement, we are doing everything in our power to right the past wrongs and take responsibility.

We are hopeful this can begin the healing process for Mr. Long and our community and that together we can move forward while learning valuable lessons and ensuring nothing like this ever happens again,” it concluded. Long’s win is a significant one for people who faced wrongful convictions and a sign of hope that they can also get justice one day. 

You Might Also Like:

Florida Abortion Rights Measure Gets Enough Signatures to Appear on Ballot

Conservatives Harrass Small Town Library Into Shutting Down Over Drag Queen Story Hour

Michigan Woman Wins $2 Million After Store Clerk Picked Out Scratch Off for Her

Officials Identify Headless, Blood-Drained Cold Case Victim After Nearly Thirteen Years

60-Year-Old Teacher Undergoes Brain Surgery After Student’s Attack

Ronnie Long
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Previous ArticleBronx Food Pantry Turns Families Away for the First Time in a Decade
Next Article Black Missouri Teen Shot in the Head for Ringing the Wrong Doorbell Earns Spot on All-State Band

Related Posts

Celebrity Kids

DDG Files Restraining Order Against Halle Bailey

June 10, 2025
Fashion

Cause of Death Revealed for Kylie Jenner’s Hairstylist Jesús Guerrero

June 5, 2025
Entertainment

Heidi Montag’s Wig at AMAs 2025 Sparks Online Criticism: Called ‘World’s Worst’ by Fans

May 30, 2025
Latest Posts

Exes Megan Fox and MGK Unveil Their Baby Girl’s Name Following ‘Celestial Seed’ Mix-Up

June 20, 2025

Jessica Alba Paid Tribute to Estranged Husband Cash Warren on First Father’s Day After Their Split

June 19, 2025

King Charles’ Father’s Day Message 2025: Subtle Nod to Prince Harry Sparks Speculation of Royal Reconciliation

June 18, 2025

Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom Facing Turbulent Times in Their Relationship

June 17, 2025

Teyana Taylor and Aaron Pierre Make Romance Official with a Kiss During His 31st Birthday Celebration

June 16, 2025

Miley Cyrus Opens Up About Healing ‘Messy’ Family Bonds After Years of Turmoil

June 13, 2025

DDG Files Restraining Order Against Halle Bailey

June 10, 2025

Cause of Death Revealed for Kylie Jenner’s Hairstylist Jesús Guerrero

June 5, 2025
About
About

We’re a news, entertainment and lifestyle hub that is dedicated to giving you quality insight on the latest lifestyle news, movie and TV news, celebrity news and lots more.

Contact us: info@gistfest.com

MOST POPULAR

Alina Nikitina: Everything We Know About the Russian Model

October 4, 2023

Jennifer Rauchet: Inside the Life of Pete Hegseth’s Wife

August 30, 2023

Jacob’s Ladder Piercing: All You Need To Know

July 21, 2023

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox!

Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
  • Disclaimer
  • About us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contribute & Advertise with Us
© 2025 GistFest. All Rights Reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.