Man who spent years in prison for false rape claim being freed
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has issued a conditional pardon ordering the release of a man who was convicted of a sexual assault his accuser now says never occurred.
The governor's office said Johnathan Montgomery was released Tuesday night from the Greensville Correctional Center.
In issuing the conditional pardon, McDonnell called Montgomery's imprisonment a "travesty of justice."
The 26-year-old Montgomery was convicted in 2008 of sexually assaulting Elizabeth Paige Coast. Then 17, the accuser claimed Montgomery assaulted her outside her grandmother's house in Hampton in 2000 when he was 14 and she was 10. Montgomery was sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison.
Since she recanted, Coast has been arrested on a perjury charge and released on bond.
The governor's office said Johnathan Montgomery was released Tuesday night from the Greensville Correctional Center.
In issuing the conditional pardon, McDonnell called Montgomery's imprisonment a "travesty of justice."
The 26-year-old Montgomery was convicted in 2008 of sexually assaulting Elizabeth Paige Coast. Then 17, the accuser claimed Montgomery assaulted her outside her grandmother's house in Hampton in 2000 when he was 14 and she was 10. Montgomery was sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison.
Since she recanted, Coast has been arrested on a perjury charge and released on bond.
This happens ALL THE TIME. Crappy DAs just want another conviction, a feather in their cap. They get judges to block perfectly legal evidence that juries need to see. Juries convict innocent people, "just in case they might be guilty". There is no innocent until PROVEN guilty in Oregon. If anyone points a finger at you, even with zero evidence, your life is OVER.
Another victim of the police state and prison industrial complex.
I am at the point where I rarely believe victims of rape anymore. There is a lot of women claiming rape that either recant or stop cooperating with authorities and often times go back to having a relationship with the so called rapist.
Part of this is that the supposed event occured when the CHILDREN were ages 10 and 14. Twelve years ago ... and not reported until 7 years ago. The whole thing stinks.
 @Cindy B.Â
Yes it does. And more than likely this kids life is ruined.
Â
Even if his record is expunged he will have to explain the lack of employment for many years to a prospective employer.
They should also add "wrongful imprisonment" to her charges! I thank her for finally admitting the truth but I feel she should face more than just perjury charges! She ruined a man's life! But I also believe this should bring about changes in how these sort of cases are tried. Humans lie! In one form or another they distort the truth and a lot of times it isn't intentional either. A bump becomes a shove. An admonsihment becomes either a threat or bullied. Testimony alone should not be a convictable case. "Your word against mine!" In this scenario the minor will almost always be believed above the accussed! Then the waiting years before saying anything? This allows for any actual evidence, either for of against, to be lost. There are numerous ways for a child to speak up and not further endanger themselves!
I truly believe that rape should be a capitol offense! Pedophiles are the worst! To me, rape is far worse than murder for the victim lives with the horror for the rest of their life! Add to that the fact that their rapist is going to be released at some future date. We all know our prisons do not rehabilitate! There are showboat programs that help maybe 0.5% of all convicts. I just want to be sure the person we put into a prison cell deserves to be there!
What's that old bible saying? Â Something like "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth". Â Put the worthless bi_ _ _ (fill in the blanks) in prison for 71/2 years and see how she likes it.
I'm sure at the time everyone was talking about castration and how they hoped he would be let into the general population for some justice.
Time to break out the lawyers to sue the crap out of everybody involved in his incarceration. Â Arresting men on accusations years later when all evidence would be obliterated has to STOP!
Â