Illinois Man Freed After Ten Years in Wrongful Conviction Case

After a decade behind bars, Jonathan Moore walked out of the Kane County Judicial Center, in St. Charles, Illinois a free man Tuesday. He was convicted of a 2000 Montgomery murder and attempted murder that officials now say he did not commit upon review of new evidence, reported The Courier-News.

 

Moore was considered a suspect in what police alleged to have been a gang-related murder after he placed himself at the scene and fit the description of the shooter. Police recovered the gun that was tied to the murder and another shooting later that day.

 

He was convicted in 2002 and sentenced to 75 years behind bars. Moore appealed his conviction in 2004. Though it was upheld, the prosecution knocked 5 years off of the sentence.

 

A tip from a confidential informant in April 2011 claiming Moore was not the real perpetrator prompted police to reopen Moore’s case. The State’s Attorney Joe McMahon then learned that new witnesses came forward and Moore’s guilt came into serious question.

 

Judge Timothy Sheldon approved the Kane County State’s Attorney’s motion to vacate Moore’s convictions Tuesday.

“I’d like to tell you all thank you for working on my case,” he said quietly. “I’d like to tell you all thank you for believing me.”

Moore was represented by Illinois Innocence Project staff attorney Nichols Cook and Downstate Illinois Innocence Project Legal Director John Hanlon.

 

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