A Dallas County judge has officially declared Benjamin Spencer innocent after he spent 34 years in prison due to a wrongful conviction of aggravated assault. Originally convicted in 1987 for the murder of Jeffrey Young in a carjacking incident, Spencer had his conviction overturned, only to be tried again and sentenced to life in prison for aggravated robbery. The Dallas County District Attorney’s office motioned to dismiss the case against Spencer, which was approved by the judge on Thursday.

Dallas County Criminal District Attorney John Creuzot expressed relief and humility in correcting the injustice surrounding Spencer’s case. Despite maintaining his innocence throughout the years, Spencer faced challenges including false testimonies from prosecution witnesses, including a jailhouse informant seeking leniency. According to assistant District Attorney Cynthia Garza, the Conviction Integrity Unit found no credible or physical evidence linking Spencer to the crime.

Spencer’s release on bond in 2021 came after the district attorney’s office determined his constitutional rights were violated, leading to an unfair trial due to false witness testimonies and evidence being withheld from the defense. Earlier this year, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned Spencer’s conviction, sending the case back to Dallas County.

With this exoneration, Benjamin Spencer becomes one of the top 60 longest-serving inmates declared innocent of a crime, according to data from The National Registry of Exonerations. This marks the end of a decades-long ordeal for Spencer, who can now move forward with his life after being wrongfully imprisoned for over three decades.