Gary Dotson

Gary Dotson
Born (1957-03-08) March 8, 1957 (age 67)
NationalityAmerican
Children1

Gary E. Dotson[1] (born March 8, 1957) is an American man who was the first[2] person to be exonerated of a criminal conviction by DNA evidence.[3] In May 1979, he was found guilty and sentenced to 25 to 50 years' imprisonment for rape, and another 25 to 50 years for aggravated kidnapping, the terms to be served concurrently. This conviction was upheld by the appellate court in 1981. In 1985, the accusing witness recanted her testimony, which had been the main evidence against Dotson. He was not exonerated or pardoned at that time, but due to popular belief that he was a victim of a false rape accusation, Dotson went through a series of paroles and re-incarcerations until DNA evidence proved his innocence in 1988. Dotson was subsequently cleared of his conviction.

  1. ^ Litke, James. Gary Dotson trying to adjust to life outside prison[permanent dead link], May 9, 1986 Associated Press report. The Ledger of Lakeland, Florida. Accessed October 23, 2009.
  2. ^ "First DNA Exoneration, Center on Wrongful Convictions: Bluhm Legal Clinic, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law".
  3. ^ The DNA 200 Archived 2008-05-11 at the Wayback Machine, May 26, 2007. Accessed October 23, 2009.