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Broward County, FL - A Florida man who spent 34 years in prison for a robbery he allegedly didn’t commit will receive $1.7 million in compensation after his conviction was overturned due to unreliable eyewitness evidence.
Sidney Holmes, now 59, was convicted at age 23 for allegedly being the getaway driver in a 1988 armed robbery near Fort Lauderdale, despite no physical evidence linking him to the crime.
According to reports, Holmes was sentenced to 400 years based primarily on a vague witness description of a yellow Oldsmobile, a vehicle that was among the most common cars in America at the time.
While incarcerated, Holmes earned degrees in theology, paralegal studies, and computer systems, using his time to educate himself rather than dwell in anger.
He told reporters that he always maintained his innocence and never gave up hope.
In 2023, the Broward County State Attorney’s Conviction Review Unit reopened his case.
Prosecutors determined the original eyewitness identification was unreliable, and a judge quickly vacated Holmes’ conviction.
Although Florida law typically grants $50,000 per year to wrongfully imprisoned individuals, Holmes’ prior record disqualified him.
A special claims bill passed unanimously through the legislature, and Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the measure on Tuesday to approve the $1.7 million payout.
Holmes says no amount of money can bring back the decades lost with his family, including missing his daughter grow up and the death of his father.
He now plans to write a book, launch a foundation, and advocate for others who claim wrongful conviction.