Governor McCrory Grants Pardon of Innocence to Edward McInnis | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Raleigh, N.C.     Governor Pat McCrory has granted a Pardon of Innocence to Edward McInnis, who served 27 years in prison for crimes he did not commit. Governor McCrory called McInnis today to inform him of his decision.

    McInnis was convicted in 1988 of several felony charges and was sentenced to life in prison.

    In March of 2015, an investigation was initiated into a claim of actual innocence brought by McInnis. DNA samples were tested again and showed that McInnis was not responsible for the crimes. In August, the District Attorney's Office for Hoke and Scotland counties filed a Motion for Appropriate Relief based on the newly discovered evidence. On August 11, 2015, Superior Court Judge Tanya Wallace ordered him to be released immediately.

    As with all pardons of innocence, the pardon application for McInnis was thoroughly reviewed by the Office of Executive Clemency, the governor's legal team, and the Clemency Committee. Governor McCrory also met personally with McInnis this week at the Executive Mansion in Raleigh.

    "On behalf of the State of North Carolina, I apologize to Mr. McInnis for the 27 years he had to spend behind bars for crimes he did not commit," said Governor McCrory. "While we cannot give him back those years of his life, I wish him well as he resumes his life as a free man."

    McInnis is eligible to file a claim under a North Carolina law that allows compensation of up to $750,000 to persons wrongly convicted of felonies.

• Contact: Crystal Feldman
•     govpress@nc.gov