Alan Butts’ Story
CIFS Represented Butts in a Wrongful Conviction Case
Alan Butts was wrongfully convicted in 2003 of the death of his girlfriend's two-year-old son. Doctors alleged the boy was the victim of violent shaking. Instead, however, he likely died from various medical issues, including infection, pneumonia, abnormal bleeding/clotting, septic shock, and metabolic abnormalities.
Alan was released from prison on December 8th after he was awarded a new trial and granted bond. He was welcomed by his family and legal team. This followed a 6-day hearing in front of Judge Jeffery Brown who heard Alan's motion for a new trial in May, 2022. Alan spent 19 years in prison before his release.
Fourteen months later, on Monday, February 12th, 2024, Judge Brown dismissed the charges against Alan at the request of Franklin County prosecutors and Alan was fully exonerated. Alan was represented by CIFS, the Ohio Innocence Project, and pro bono private practice attorneys.
If you want to learn more about the case and process, this beautiful video produced by Barry Rowen tells Alan’s story.
Cases like Alan's are something we see all too often. People spend decades behind bars for crimes that were actually illnesses or accidents. We are working everyday to stop these wrongful convictions before they happen, while helping to reverse these convictions that have already happened.
Read the news release from the day Alan was freed.