Sacramento >> Gov. Jerry Brown signed a measure on Friday providing Lake County resident Luther Ed Jones with $936,880 in compensation for the 18 years wrongfully spent in prison.
Senator Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Bill Dodd made the announcement Friday afternoon. Jones, now 71, has been facing significant medical issues, making the issue of his compensation more urgent.
The Northern California Innocence Project worked with McGuire and Dodd to include Jones’ allocation in SB 1186. Senator Ricardo Lara, the author of the measure, agreed to add the provision to his bill last month. The payment was approved by the State Legislature this week and signed by Governor Brown yesterday.
“These funds won’t right the wrong of Mr. Jones’ time in prison, far from it, but we hope these dollars will help him and his family rebuild their lives,” Senator McGuire said.
Jones was released from prison this spring after he had served 18 years of his 27 year prison sentence for a wrongful conviction for molesting his then-girlfriend’s daughter.
The Northern California Innocence Project at Santa Cruz University School of Law helped Jones file suit to claim compensation for Jones’ time in prison at a rate of $140 per day for 6,692 days of incarceration. The settlement was granted by the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board, but requires the Legislature and Governor to appropriate the funds.
Jones was ordered to be released this February by Judge Andrew Blum after new evidence proved his innocence. In February, the alleged victim of the crime approached the Lake County District Attorney’s Office to admit that she had lied back in 1998 under pressure from her mother. The District Attorney’s office investigated the woman’s claims and determined that she was telling the truth. Since leaving prison, Jones has been bedridden, facing liver problems and requiring dialysis for his kidneys.
The State of California through the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board will provide the funds to Jones.
“I’m thankful that our colleagues and Governor Brown helped Senator McGuire and I get Mr. Jones the compensation he’s entitled to,” said Dodd.
Signed by the Governor on July 1, SB 1186 took effect immediately.
