He Was Sentenced To 400 Years In Prison For A Crime He Didn’t Commit. He Was Just Freed.

After prosecutors dropped the charges against him, a Florida man was released from prison after spending 34 years in jail for a crime that he did not commit.

Sidney Holmes (57) was sentenced to 400 years imprisonment for his role in an armed robbery in 1988. He was released this week.

“I never lost hope and always knew this day would come,” According to an Innocence Project of Florida statement, Holmes claimed that he had been released when he learned of this. “I cannot wait to hug my mother in the free world for the first time in over 34 years.”

Holmes was convicted as the getaway driver for an armed burglary that took place in 1988 at a convenience shopping just outside Fort Lauderdale. In November 2020, Holmes reached out to the Broward County attorney’s office for a review of his case. Holmes’ case was reviewed by the Innocence Project, and they found it. “reasonable doubts about his guilt,” The statement was made by the office of the state attorney.

CNN reported that one of the victims in the armed burglary identified the getaway vehicle to be a brown Oldsmobile Cutlass, with a tan roof. There was also a hole in its trunk. The victim’s brother saw the getaway vehicle on the road a few weeks later and gave police his license plate number. Holmes was the registered owner. Holmes was arrested and charged for the crime despite having an alibi and a car that had key differences from the victim’s.

“There was no physical or scientific evidence, nor any corroborating witnesses, linking Mr. Holmes to the crime,” The Innocence Project stated.

After not being able identify Holmes in the first lineup, one victim was able only to identify Holmes in the second photo lineup.

In its press release, the office of the state attorney stated that prosecutors are being pursued. “determined that Holmes had a plausible claim of innocence because of how he became a suspect and because of the precarious eyewitness identification that was the principal evidence against him at trial.” The office stated that it “would not charge him today based on these facts.”

On Monday, a judge accepted a request by the Innocence Project as well as the office to exonerate Holmes from his sentence and conviction. Holmes was released the same day because of this decision by his attorneys.

The 25-page report of the conviction review unit explains how Holmes was sentenced for being a getaway driver. Holmes had been convicted twice for armed robbery. Both robberies took place on the same day in 1984. In both cases, Holmes was driving his car as his co-defendant Steven Glover. Glover tried to flee when police stopped the vehicle. Holmes then surrendered. Holmes also admitted to driving and surrendered Glover. Holmes, however, stated that he couldn’t identify the men involved in the 1988 armed robbery, as he wasn’t part of it.

Peter Magrino, prosecutor, stated that Holmes deserved 825 years imprisonment at sentencing. “should not be released from prison while his body is still functioning.” Florida’s life sentence was subject to parole after 25 years. Magrino told the review unit that he didn’t want this.

At the time, the judge believed that 825 years was sufficient. “perhaps a little bit too much,” Holmes was instead sentenced to 400 years.

“From He was sentenced for a crime that he didn’t commit to be 400 years imprisonment. He was just released.“

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