A 61-year-old Oklahoma man who spent 30 years in prison for a 1987 rape and burglary he didn't commit has finally been cleared of the crime.
A judge on Tuesday exonerated Perry Lott and officially dismissed the case after post-conviction DNA testing from the survivor's rape kit showed he wasn't the suspect.
"I have never lost hope that this day would come," Lott said in a statement. "I had faith that the truth would prevail — even after 35 long years. I am grateful to everyone who supported me and helped in my fight for freedom. I can finally shut this door and move on with my life."
Lott was convicted by a jury in 1987 of first-degree rape, second-degree burglary and other related charges, but "the state's case rested entirely on the survivor's identification of Mr. Lott, which was based on a suggestive police lineup," the Innocence Project said in a statement. "No physical evidence connected Mr. Lott to the crime, and he did not match the physical description of the perpetrator."
Lott was ultimately sentenced to a term of 100 years in prison.
During a post-conviction investigation, the Innocence Project ordered DNA testing of the rape kit and in 2014, Lott was excluded as the source of male genetic material found on the victim. Despite the new evidence, the district attorney declined to vacate Lott's conviction.
In 2018, the district attorney offered Lott a sentence modification that would guarantee his immediate release from prison, but the conviction would remain on his record. Lott took the deal to secure his release even though it meant the charges would be hanging over his head.
In 2023, the Innocence Project approached the newly elected district attorney and asked him to vacate Lott's conviction based on the exonerating evidence.
"Mr. Lott has shown nothing but persistence and resilience in his 35 year long pursuit of justice. He would not give up on proving his innocence," said Innocence Project Senior Staff Attorney Adnan Sultan. "Five years ago, all evidence pointed to his innocence, but he was denied justice. We are grateful to District Attorney Erik Johnson for his commitment to righting this wrong."
Lott will be able to seek up to $175,000 in compensation for his wrongful imprisonment under Oklahoma state law.