Lathan Rydell Word was wrongfully convicted of armed robbery in 1999 and served 12 years in prison before being released. A resolution approved by the state House on Thursday would pay him $400,000 for the mistake.
House Resolution 73, sponsored by Rep. Carolyn Hugley, D-Columbus, passed by a vote of 97-58 and now goes to the Senate.
Word was less than a week away from joining the Marine Corps when he was arrested at age 18. The lone witness against him, now in prison for murder and armed robbery, Hugley said, recanted his testimony in 2011.
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