Man Convicted Of 1989 Murder Set Free But Conviction Not Overturned

A man who has spent 27 years in prison is free, but the conviction he claims was a mistake wasn't overturned.

Anthony Sanborn, Jr. was convicted of killing Jessica Briggs in 1989, but has maintained throughout his prison sentence that he's innocent. A review of his conviction was initiated after the only witness to the crime changed her story. Hope Cady, who was 13 at the time of the murder, told authorities at the review hearing that she was coerced by police to implicate Sanborn.

WABI-TV reports, after 21 days of review hearings, prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed to set Sanborn free. While his conviction wasn't overturned, Sanborn agreed to accept the sentence of 'time served.' In other words, he will still be considered a convicted murderer, but will not return to prison.