the then 41 year old daniel villegas, wrongfully convicted of the murder of 2 teens when he was 16 years old, finally proven innocent after 25 years in prison
Don't hold your breath, they only paid this guy [$750,000](https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2021/04/07/us/ronnie-long-fighting-compensation-cap-in-nc-trnd/index.html?__twitter_impression=true) after spending over 40 years in jail
Yea this is one of those moments where we all say "yes! Good!" But also, the judicial system failed him for 25 years of his life... 25 years of a person's life where he was not a free man, where he was not free to be with his family, where he was not free to sleep in his own bed, where he was not free to pursue knowledge and work and create interesting things for the world and to enjoy arts and music and experience life...
The judicial system in the US is so fucked and we need to remember the tragedies of these failures so we can both prevent others from wrongfully losing years of their life and ensure that those who make it out the other end, whether they were guilty of a crime or not, can be welcomed into society with welcome and community and humanity and assistance where needed.
I appreciate the sentiment (i think...) but i wouldn't really call this wholesome myself. I'm very very happy for him but I'm really bummed out that something like this could happen.
This isn't wholesome, this is horrifying. Finally being released after spending the prime years of your life wrongfully imprisoned still fucking sucks.
This is wholesome because he only spent like 60% of his life in prison for murders he didn't commit instead of the whole sentence? The bar is underground with how low it's been set, apparently.
I agree. It is not wholesome, it is infuriating. It is not a happy story when someone is released from wrongful conviction... it is a story of unimaginable injustice.
To get an emotional high off this man’s relief and the feels about his tragic story is sick. It’s not feel good at all. It’s a horrific tragedy that this happens, and so regularly, in our “modern” world. I can’t even.
don't mean to be rude, but how is someone proven innocent after jail time? can someone give me a full explanation, or a link or something? thank you very much
The fact that he even got convicted makes me believe the judicial system is flawed so much that an innocent man can go to jail for 25 years yet the person that falsely accused him can get away with it without any punishment.
How is this wholesome? Fucking guy spent 25 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit. His life is ruined and a quarter of it is gone.
How is this wholesome?
I am curious. When a person is wrongfully accused, does prison time and then released, will the state give them compensatory money as in "This is the average salary you would have gotten if you worked those 25 years". I mean, even if it's a sales person in a store..25 years worth of money would be enough to jump start your life. How does this work?
Not to be *that guy*, but I'm gonna be *that guy*. Are they going to do literally anything to actually make a difference in him adjusting back to normal life? I sure as fuck hope his record is wiped of this shit so he can get a job almost fucking *anywhere*.
Will there be any compensation for the 25 years of his life that they took away for absolutely no reason? If this takes place in America, more than likely little to none.
Regardless, congrats to that dude. Glad that it appears he has a good welcoming party.
The song "[Wheat Kings](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKN2pT2W9ZY)" by The Tragically Hip is about a similar case in Canada many years ago, and is fitting here I think.
Something similar happened in Poland recently. An innocent man was sentenced to 25 years for rape and murder of a teenage girl. He was acquitted after spending 18 years in prison. He got a payout of approximately 3 mln USD.
For those interested, it's worth reading this book on other such cases:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1281788.Judge_for_Yourself
This isn't wholesome, this is Rage inducing. The man lost 25 years, 25 FREAKING YEARS OF HIS LIFE!!!! FOR SOMETHING HE DIDN'T EVEN DO and there is no way he can be compensated for that, no amount of anything can compensate for the 25 years he lost.
They better have paid this man Millions of dollars for what they did to him. Being wrongfully locked up is one of my biggest fears
Don't hold your breath, they only paid this guy [$750,000](https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2021/04/07/us/ronnie-long-fighting-compensation-cap-in-nc-trnd/index.html?__twitter_impression=true) after spending over 40 years in jail
took them long fucking enough, 25 years wasted because of someone's bullshit
Yea this is one of those moments where we all say "yes! Good!" But also, the judicial system failed him for 25 years of his life... 25 years of a person's life where he was not a free man, where he was not free to be with his family, where he was not free to sleep in his own bed, where he was not free to pursue knowledge and work and create interesting things for the world and to enjoy arts and music and experience life...
The judicial system in the US is so fucked and we need to remember the tragedies of these failures so we can both prevent others from wrongfully losing years of their life and ensure that those who make it out the other end, whether they were guilty of a crime or not, can be welcomed into society with welcome and community and humanity and assistance where needed.
I don’t cry at anything cause I’m a heartless git, but this video makes me emotional every time. It’s so powerful.
So your not a sad bathroom? My life is a lie.
If by wholesome you mean devastating then yes, this is "wholesome".
And now the civil suit can begin...if it hasn't already.
What would be done to the person who wrongly accused him?
I've seen this its so sad
No it's wholesome /s
I can’t imagine.... there is really no way he can be repaid.... but he should definitely try and get everything he can.
I appreciate the sentiment (i think...) but i wouldn't really call this wholesome myself. I'm very very happy for him but I'm really bummed out that something like this could happen.
This isn't wholesome, this is horrifying. Finally being released after spending the prime years of your life wrongfully imprisoned still fucking sucks.
This is not wholesome. It’s heartbreaking
This poor man, good lord. My heart.
Wow he even had Count Dooku as his lawyer
The people that convicted him should face 25 years in prison!!! So nice to see real justice
baffling how many people are wrongfully convicted in us justice system
Give that man 10 million! I feel so bad for that guy, wasting all the best years of his life.
This is wholesome because he only spent like 60% of his life in prison for murders he didn't commit instead of the whole sentence? The bar is underground with how low it's been set, apparently.
Man, the moment is wholesome, but the underlying situation is beyond fucked up.
This is so incredibly sad. So much of his life he will never be able to get back.
r/aboringdystopia
im sorry but how could that possibly be his daughter
Conjugal visits are a thing
How is this wholesome...what??
I agree. It is not wholesome, it is infuriating. It is not a happy story when someone is released from wrongful conviction... it is a story of unimaginable injustice.
To get an emotional high off this man’s relief and the feels about his tragic story is sick. It’s not feel good at all. It’s a horrific tragedy that this happens, and so regularly, in our “modern” world. I can’t even.
Locked up at 16 but has a child already Lifes tough for him
how does he have a wife and kids having been locked up at 16 till 41?
don't mean to be rude, but how is someone proven innocent after jail time? can someone give me a full explanation, or a link or something? thank you very much
No one can be proven "innocent," just "not guilty." Was trying to find out if DNA evidence exonerated him.
This is sad as fuck
The fact that he even got convicted makes me believe the judicial system is flawed so much that an innocent man can go to jail for 25 years yet the person that falsely accused him can get away with it without any punishment.
How is this wholesome? Fucking guy spent 25 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit. His life is ruined and a quarter of it is gone. How is this wholesome?
I am curious. When a person is wrongfully accused, does prison time and then released, will the state give them compensatory money as in "This is the average salary you would have gotten if you worked those 25 years". I mean, even if it's a sales person in a store..25 years worth of money would be enough to jump start your life. How does this work?
Not to be *that guy*, but I'm gonna be *that guy*. Are they going to do literally anything to actually make a difference in him adjusting back to normal life? I sure as fuck hope his record is wiped of this shit so he can get a job almost fucking *anywhere*. Will there be any compensation for the 25 years of his life that they took away for absolutely no reason? If this takes place in America, more than likely little to none. Regardless, congrats to that dude. Glad that it appears he has a good welcoming party.
PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW THIS SHIT IS WHOLESOME
Fuck this country. I fought for my right to say that.
Usually I'm a glass half full person but the bad heavily outweighs the good. This is just terrible.
When did the mother have kids tho.... If her husband is in prison for 25 years
He probably wasn't married with kids at 16.
Dooku is this you?
yesss jehhdii
He about to get some paper
The song "[Wheat Kings](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKN2pT2W9ZY)" by The Tragically Hip is about a similar case in Canada many years ago, and is fitting here I think.
Watching only a minute of this and somehow have tears running down my eye
Jesus thats a long time he spent 25 FUCKING YEARS for a crime he didn't do took long enough
I hope they gave him some kind of compensation. This guy lost 25 years of his life
Something similar happened in Poland recently. An innocent man was sentenced to 25 years for rape and murder of a teenage girl. He was acquitted after spending 18 years in prison. He got a payout of approximately 3 mln USD. For those interested, it's worth reading this book on other such cases: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1281788.Judge_for_Yourself
Ask someone who is 43, I can't imagine being locked up at 16. Only to just now be free.
Every lawyer in a 1000 km radius, ready to cash in on helping him sue
"Uh... oops?" - The justice system
Anyone else think the older gentleman on the left looks like Sir Christopher Lee?
This isn't wholesome, this is Rage inducing. The man lost 25 years, 25 FREAKING YEARS OF HIS LIFE!!!! FOR SOMETHING HE DIDN'T EVEN DO and there is no way he can be compensated for that, no amount of anything can compensate for the 25 years he lost.
The only thing that is wholesome is Reddit chungus
So, he was a teen father?
How the actual fucking fuck is this wholesome ? 25 years of a mans life ruined