Bartow, Florida (CNN) -- After more than three decades in prison, a Florida man was set free Thursday after a DNA test showed he did not kidnap and rape a 9-year-old boy in 1974.
"I'm not angry," James Bain, 54, told reporters after a brief hearing in Bartow, Florida.
Bain was 19 when he was convicted on charges of kidnapping, burglary and strong-arm rape. He received a life sentence. He's going home for the first time in 35 years.
"I got God in my head," said Bain, surrounded by supporters and wearing a T-shirt with "Not Guilty" across the front. "I knew one day he will reveal me."
Of the 245 people in the United States whom DNA testing has exonerated, none has spent more time behind bars than Bain, according to the Innocence Project, a national organization dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted people through such testing.
In 2001, Florida passed a statute allowing cases to be reopened for DNA testing. Bain submitted handwritten motions four times seeking such testing but was denied each time. His fifth attempt was successful after an appeals court ruled he was entitled to a hearing.
Bain initially was expected to be freed with some conditions as the state wanted a further review of DNA test results. But the review was completed ahead of Thursday's hearing.
Polk County State Attorney Jerry Hill told the judge that DNA testing had excluded Bain from the crime.
"He's just not connected with this particular incident," Hill said.
"Mr. Bain, I'm now signing the order, sir," the judge said, referring to an order vacating the judgment and sentence.
"You are a free man. Congratulations," he said, and the courtroom erupted into applause.
In 1974, the 9-year-old Lake Wales, Florida, victim had told police that his attacker had bushy sideburns and a mustache. After being shown five photos of potential suspects, the victim picked out one of Bain, the police report said.
The victim, now 44, lives in Florida and was made aware of Bain's situation, according to multiple sources.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Bain said he was going home with family. "I'm going to see my mom," he said.
His mother, Sarah Reed, has been in and out of hospitals in recent years. She said she is putting her house and her car in her son's name. "I want him to have something by himself. He's suffered enough," she said.
Asked about prison, Bain said, "So many things can happen to you at any time." But now, "I guess I kind of feel like when they first landed on the moon. We have touchdown," he said, laughing.
CNN's Rich Phillips contributed to this report.
Obama Plans To Sharply Boost U.S. Broadband Access | ||
| WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration is to award $2 billion in grants and loans over the next 75 days as part of a plan to dramatically expand Americans' broadband Internet access and create tens of thousands of jobs. Vice President Joe Biden is due to make the announcement in Dawsonville, Georgia on Thursday. He will give details of an initial $182 million investment in 18 broadband projects in 17 states, officials said. The $2 billion is part of an overall $7.2 billion set aside in President Barack Obama's $787 billion economic recovery package to bring broadband access to unserved or underserved U.S. communities. "Broadband touches nearly every aspect of the U.S. economy, providing Americans with unprecedented opportunities in employment, education, health care, entrepreneurship, and civic participation," the White House National Economic Council said in a report released to coincide with the announcement. "These critical broadband investments will create tens of thousands of jobs and stimulate the economy in the near term," the report said. Biden's chief economist, Jared Bernstein, told reporters in a briefing the administration was not able to provide more precise figures on exactly how many jobs would be created. Officials said the names of the companies that would benefit from the grants and loans would be made public on Thursday. The broadband expansion projects aim to link communities to the "Internet backbone," a network of large, high-bandwidth fiber-optic cables that span the country. "The new broadband access will help underserved and often hard-hit communities overcome the distance and technology barrier by expanding connectivity between educational institutions, enabling remote medical consultations and attracting new businesses as well as the jobs that come with them," the White House said in a statement. | ||
Article Copyright World Entertainment News Network 2009 http://www.wenn.com/ Photo(s) Copyright Getty Images 2009 |
ATLANTA — A private middle school in inner-city Atlanta has received $1.5 million from Oprah Winfrey.
The Ron Clark Academy announced the donation Thursday. The innovative school has struggled to raise money this year amid the sagging economy to pay for its $2.8 million operating budget, which is bankrolled almost entirely by donors.
The school in one of the city's poorest neighborhoods is hoping to expand its campus by building a cafeteria, gymnasium and theater.
Winfrey, who has had school founder Ron Clark on her show twice, donated $365,000 to the school last December. Clark wrote the best-selling teaching book "The Essential 55."
- Ron Clark Academy: http://www.ronclarkacademy.com/
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry died Thursday from injuries sustained in a Wednesday fall from the back of a pickup truck. He was 26.
Henry died at 6:36 a.m., Charlotte-Mecklenburg police in North Carolina told the Associated Press.
Henry was hospitalized Wednesday after he was found on a residential road with "life-threatening injuries," police said.
According to authorities, Henry was involved in a "domestic situation" with his fiance, Loleini Tonga, at a residence. As she drove off in a pickup truck, Henry jumped onto the bed of the truck, police said. At some point, Henry "came out of the back of the vehicle."
No charges have been immediately filed.
A fifth-year veteran of the Bengals, Henry caught 119 passes for 1,826 yard and 21 touchdowns during his tenure. He had been sidelined since Nov. 8 due to a broken arm.
TV Guide
"When a person is lucky enough to live inside a story, to live inside an imaginary world, the pains of this world disappear. For as long as the story goes on, reality no longer exists."
Paul Auster
The reality is that I am alone, and the pain of that reality just hit me like a thousand needles piercing my stomach as I said goodbye. It is going to be a long winter.
Blazing a new Trial is for the brave
Going about attention the wrong way
makes one ignore the other who misbehave
Accumulated Knowledge
A car note with low Mileage
the spread of Knowledge
common sense before College
Others always have something to teach thee
Some are attracted to History
Interested in Mystery
Growth & Happiness
Is brought by everlastin'
Nobody has to be rich, to be high class
A toast without wine in the glass
Compassion & awareness
Sympathy toward suffering
Bad times isn't look'd over nothing
just a matter of how you huff or puffing
Everybody make mistakes
unhealthy to live in hate
The wind blows faster as one skate
They say, whatever you do
Do it Right!
All bad and good things come to the light
no matter what, everything will be alright
Can achieve great highs
above all lows
Just gotta make the move & go
Thinking on the feet
focusing on Solutions to meet
A very nice story to keep
Passion is to be very thoughtful
less talk, more walk
Optimistic & Hopeful
Unique Human Qualities
To please & amuse
Is to live without abuse
Taking advantage without misuse
Help break down the walls that divide people
then we can bring a United sequel
Always good to be with strong confidence
keep a eye on the watch a bit
A Humanitarian effort is Lit
Surrounded by positive people is Legit
others will go for the ride of they're lives
Cash, blessings, and love is attracted
When looking on the brighter side of life is the magnet
pessimist should get no attention
living in they're own detention
The focus is to create something of
longstanding value just to mention
pOetiQ rOses
Copyright 2009
Mother and son - Pam Cabe
“I Love You Mother”
By Johnny Bodley
All that I am and all that I’ll ever be would not be possible if you
hadn’t given birth to me so I’m letting you know right now that I love you so
I Love You Mother
you’re everything to me
I Love You Mother
you’re very special to me
I remember those days when daddy walked away there were
times we didn’t have a dime and when the winter came we made it
through the cold and rain ‘cause of your strong hold on to Gods strong
hand so for all the times that I didn’t call you when you were sick i
n bed, and for all the times I wasn’t there with you to rub your aching
head I’m letting you know right now Mother that I love you so
I Love you Mother
you’re everything to me
I Love You Mother
you’re very special to me
If you’re feeling that I am angry at you or
if you’re thinking that you’re never on my mind and if you’re having
doubts of whether I care for you let me straiten it out right now
and ease your mind I’m letting you know right now that I love you so
I Love You Mother
I Love You Mother you’re everything to me
I Love You Mother you’re very special to me
