A California man just received $25 million from taxpayers after prosecutors stonewalled DNA testing for decades, allowing an innocent man to rot in prison while the real killer walked free.
Story Highlights
- Maurice Hastings awarded record $25 million settlement after 38 years wrongfully imprisoned
- Two district attorneys denied DNA testing requests for over two decades despite available evidence
- Conviction based solely on eyewitness testimony with no physical evidence linking Hastings to crime
- Real perpetrator identified through DNA testing only after prosecutorial leadership change
- Settlement represents largest wrongful conviction payout in California history
Decades of Prosecutorial Stonewalling
Maurice Hastings spent 38 years behind bars for a 1983 murder he didn’t commit because two successive Los Angeles County District Attorneys refused to authorize DNA testing of crucial evidence. From 1988 to 2022, Hastings repeatedly requested testing of semen evidence found at the crime scene, but prosecutors blocked every attempt. Only when George Gascón took office did authorities finally test the DNA, immediately proving Hastings’ innocence and identifying the actual perpetrator already in prison.
The case exposes a disturbing pattern of prosecutorial misconduct where career prosecutors prioritize conviction rates over justice. Hastings was convicted based entirely on circumstantial evidence and eyewitness testimony, with no physical evidence connecting him to Roberta Wydermyer’s murder. This represents exactly the kind of government overreach and abuse of power that undermines constitutional protections and destroys innocent lives.
Taxpayers Bear the Cost of Government Failure
The $25 million settlement burden falls squarely on Inglewood taxpayers, who must now pay for decades of prosecutorial arrogance and investigative failures. This massive payout demonstrates the real-world consequences when government officials refuse accountability and ignore available evidence. The settlement serves as a stark reminder that prosecutorial misconduct doesn’t just destroy individual lives—it costs communities millions in taxpayer dollars while allowing dangerous criminals to remain free.
Hastings’ attorney Nick Brustin warned that police departments nationwide should recognize “there is a steep price to pay for allowing such egregious misconduct on their watch.” This case sets a precedent that may encourage other wrongfully convicted individuals to pursue civil remedies, potentially costing taxpayers additional millions as more prosecutorial failures come to light.
Constitutional Justice Finally Served
At age 72, Hastings finally received vindication when a Superior Court declared him factually innocent in 2023, nearly four decades after his wrongful conviction. His statement that “no amount of money could ever restore the 38 years of my life that were stolen from me” underscores the irreversible damage caused by prosecutorial obstinance. The case highlights how government resistance to new evidence and technological advances can trample individual rights and constitutional protections.
This outcome represents both justice for Hastings and a warning about unchecked prosecutorial power. When district attorneys can deny DNA testing requests for decades without consequence, the system fails its most basic function of protecting the innocent. The settlement, while providing some compensation, cannot restore the decades of freedom, family relationships, and life experiences that government misconduct stole from an innocent man.
Sources:
California man awarded $25M for wrongful conviction after 38 years in prison – LAist
Wrongful conviction lawsuit ends in $25M settlement – Daily Journal
