Man Wrongfully Convicted of Kidnapping, Robbery and Rape Exonerated and Freed After Nearly 30 Years in Prison

A man who was wrongfully convicted of kidnapping, robbery and rape has been exonerated and freed after nearly 30 years in prison. On Tuesday, Los Angeles County prosecutors announced that Gerardo Cabanillas had been declared innocent.

The case was reexamined by the Conviction Integrity Unit of the District Attorney’s office, and last week a judge reversed his conviction, found him factually innocent and ordered his permanent release. DNA testing had helped to exonerate Cabanillas in a 1995 attack on a couple sitting in a parked car in the city of South Gate.

Cabanillas was initially convicted in 1995 and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He had maintained his innocence throughout his incarceration.

The Conviction Integrity Unit of the District Attorney’s office has been working to review cases of possible wrongful conviction since 2015. The unit has reviewed over 200 cases since its inception and has exonerated 10 people.

Cabanillas’ case is the latest example of the importance of the Conviction Integrity Unit’s work. His exoneration is a reminder of the need for continued vigilance in the criminal justice system to ensure that innocent people are not wrongfully convicted.