Ernest Sonnier

Ernest Sonnier is the 358th person exonerated through DNA.

Time Served:

22.5 years

State: Texas

Conviction: Aggravated Kidnapping

Sentence: Life

Incident Date: 12/24/1985

Conviction Date: 12/01/1986

Exoneration Date: 06/01/2018

Accused Pleaded Guilty: No

Contributing Causes of Conviction: Eyewitness Misidentification, Unvalidated or Improper Forensic Science

Death Penalty Case: No

Race of Exoneree: African American

Status: Exonerated by DNA

Type of Crime: Sex Crimes

Forensic Science at Issue: Flawed Serology

Year of Exoneration: 2018