Man Cleared of Rape After 22 Years

Reported By: Delores Keith, Web Editor Leigha Baugham, 11Alive.com, January 21, 2007

An Atlanta man sentenced to 45 years in prison, who has always claimed his innocence, is being released after modern day technology cleared his name.

Willie 'Pete' Williams was convicted in 1985 for raping a woman near a Sandy Springs apartment complex. The case relied heavily on eye-witness accounts, and with the help of the Georgia Innocence Project, Williams was finally able to clear his name.

The Georgia Innocence Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to freeing innocent inmates through DNA testing and the organization sent letters to prison inmates convicted of rape and asked them to reply if they felt they had been wrongly convicted.

Williams responded to the letter, and after serving nearly 22 years, DNA testing by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation proved he was indeed innocent.

"DNA testing has proven that Mr. Williams is innocent of the crimes he was convicted of," said Aimee Maxwell of the Georgia Innocence Project.

Cliff Williams, an intern with the Georgia Innocence Project did much of the work to prove Williams innocence.

"After the first two attacks, our client Mr. Williams was arrested on unrelated charges and while he was in the Fulton County jail, an additional three attacks occurred in the same general area, under almost identical circumstances," said Williams.

Willie Williams' mother told 11Alive News that she had always known her son was innocent and she thanked God for the people who were finally able to prove his innocence through DNA testing.

"The only thing I want for my son is to be free, for him to walk out of those doors and be a free man, Judy Beglar, Williams' mother.