Arthur Mumphrey, who was wrongly convicted on a sexual assault charge 20 years ago, was pardoned by Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
''My action today cannot give back the time he spent in prison, but it does end this miscarriage of justice,'' said Perry.
Mumphrey, who received the news from his attorney's secretary, said he can now feel at ease. ''I feel great,'' he said. ''I wasn't really nervous, but it's a great relief to have it all behind me now.”
A Montgomery County judge ordered Mumphrey's release from prison Jan. 17 after DNA tests showed that he was not responsible for attacking a 13-year-old girl in a wooded area of Conroe on Feb. 28, 1986. A jury convicted him of aggravated sexual assault, and the judge sentenced him to 35 years in prison on Aug. 12, 1986.
Forensic technology now used to test DNA in criminal cases was not available 20 years ago. Blood tests used at the time could not rule him out as a suspect.
Mumphrey, 42, still might be in prison today if his attorney, Eric J. Davis, had not been persistent about tracking down the DNA after he reopened the case. After nearly six months, the evidence was found at the Texas Department of Public Safety's Houston crime lab stored in a refrigerator.
Mumphrey immediately called his mother, Bettye Mumphrey of Conroe, after he received word of his pardon.
Bettye Mumphrey said she's proud of her son, and is thankful Perry took acted so quickly after receiving a unanimous recommendation from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, which was forward to his office in March.