Interactive: Payouts to Exonerated Texas Prisoners

Texas has paid 89 exonerees nearly $61 million since 1992, according to data from the Texas comptroller's office, and the cost of wrongful imprisonments continues to rise. Just last week, Randolph Arledge was released from prison after his 1984 murder conviction was overturned because of new DNA evidence. If he is paid for each of the 28 years he was incarcerated, Arledge's exoneration could significantly add to that total. He could receive more than $2.2 million in a lump sum, plus an annuity worth a similar amount.

The Tim Cole Act provides Texas exonerees with the most generous compensation package in the nation. How much exonerated prisoners receive depends largely on when they were released and when they applied for compensation. Changes in the law over the last decade have created different payouts, according to reimbursement data The Texas Tribune obtained under state public information laws, leaving some prisoners who were released earlier feeling doubly wronged.

The most recent exoneree to receive a payment from the state was David Lee Wiggins, who served more than 24 years for rape. He was pardoned Sept. 12, 2012 and received more than $1.9 million. Exoneree Cornelius Dupree has received the largest lump sum payment, more than $2.4 million for the 30 years he spent imprisoned for an aggravated robbery he didn't commit.

Use the graph below to see how much money the state has paid to exonerated prisoners by fiscal year. Use the table to see how much each exoneree has received as a lump sum and in an annuity, the date each was exonerated, what they were accused of and how many days they spent in prison.


Wrongful Imprisonment Payouts to Exonerated Texas Prisoners


Name Lump Sum Annuity Date of Court Order Reason Time Incarcerated Days Incarcerated
Dupree, Cornelius $2,472,083.33 $13,861.07 3/2/2011 Aggravated robbery 30 years, 7 months, 22 days 11,182
Woodard, James Lee $2,186,666.67 $13,615.94 9/30/2009 Murder 27 years, 3 months, 28 days 9,973
Green, Michael Anthony $2,186,666.67 $11,378.30 10/20/2010 Aggravated rape 27 years, 3 months, 5 days 9,950
Chatman, Charles Allen $2,160,000.00 $11,720.22 1/23/2008 Aggravated Rape 26 years, 11 months, 6 days 9,826
Pinchback, Johnny Louis $2,131,427.51 $12,680.92 6/8/2011 Aggravated sexual assault 26 years, 7 months, 11 days 9,711
Allen, Billy Frederick $2,073,333.33 3/5/2009 Murder 25 years, 10 months, 14 days 9,439
Phillips, Steven Charles $2,069,166.67 $11,601.90 10/1/2008 Aggravated sexual abuse, indecency with child, burglary of habitation 25 years, 0 months, 4 days 9,129
Morton, Michael $1,973,333.33 $12,287.55 10/12/2011 Murder 24 years, 7 months, 25 days 8,995
Wiggins, David Lee $1,933,333.33 $0.00 9/12/2012 Aggravated sexual assault 24 years, 2 months, 0 days 8,820
McGowan, Thomas Clifford $1,826,666.67 $10,242.20 6/11/2008 Aggravated sexual assault and Burglary of a habitation 22 years, 9 months, 7 days 8,307
Evans, Jerry Lee $1,820,000.00 $9,729.69 10/21/2009 Aggravated sexual assault 22 years, 8 months, 6 days 8,276
Jackson, Raymond $1,863,333.33 6/20/2012 Aggravated sexual assault 22 years, 7 months, 25 days 8,265
Miller, Billy Wayne $500,000.00 $11,022.69 12/12/2006 Aggravated sexual assault 22 years, 7 months, 17 days 8,257
Williams, James $1,758,333.33 6/20/2012 Aggravated sexual assault 21 years, 7 months, 5 days 7,880
Fuller, Larry Charles $1,752,811.03 $11,517.48 1/11/2007 Aggravated rape 19 years, 11 months, 6 days 7,271
Smith, Billy James $1,593,333.34 $9,921.37 6/15/2005 Aggravated sexual assault 19 years, 10 months, 30 days 7,265
Graves, Anthony $1,457,828.79 $7,597.09 10/27/2010 Capital Murder 18 years, 2 months, 4 days 6,634
Mumphrey, Arthur Merle $452,083.33 $7,787.89 3/17/2006 Aggravated sexual assault 18 years, 0 months, 11 days 6,581
Lindsey, Johnnie Eael $1,820,000.00 $11,332.78 4/24/2009 Aggravated rape 17 years, 11 months, 2 days 6,537
Wallis, Gregory Wayne $1,426,667.00 $7,864.92 2/5/2007 Burglary of a habitation 17 years, 9 months, 20 days 6,495
Lavernia, Carlos M. $435,416.65 $8,904.06 11/29/2000 Aggravated sexual abuse 17 years, 4 months, 27 days 6,352
Willis, Ernest Ray $429,166.66 $9,965.05 10/5/2004 Capital Murder 17 years, 1 months, 11 days 6,246
Waller, Patrick Leondon $1,300,000.00 $6,347.43 7/3/2008 Aggravated robbery and Aggravated kidnapping 16 years, 2 months, 24 days 5,924
Thomas, Victor Larue $391,666.64 $6,909.37 4/17/2002 Aggravated sexual assault / kidnapping 15 years, 7 months, 6 days 5,691
Fountain, Wiley Edward $387,499.98 $8,102.94 3/18/2003 Aggravated sexual assault 15 years, 5 months, 19 days 5,644
Miles, Richard $1,233,333.33 2/15/2012 Murder and attempted murder 15 years, 4 months, 26 days 5,621
Pope, David Shawn $385,416.65 $6,593.38 2/2/2001 Aggravated sexual assault 15 years, 4 months, 20 days 5,615
Hall, Tony $1,260,416.67 $6,478.48 2/16/2011 Aggravated sexual assault of a child 15 years, 0 months, 0 days 5,475
Washington, Calvin Edward $374,999.96 9/10/2001 Capital Murder 14 years, 11 months, 4 days 5,444
Duke, Dale $1,146,666.67 3/28/2012 Aggravated sexual assault 14 years, 3 months, 10 days 5,210
Taylor, Ron Gene $1,140,000.00 $6,185.67 6/13/2008 Aggravated sexual assault 14 years, 2 months, 6 days 5,176
Cole, Tim $1,060,000.00 3/1/2010 Aggravated sexual assault 13 years, 2 months, 21 days 4,826
Scott, Christopher Shun $886,666.67 $4,915.19 3/3/2010 Capital Murder 12 years, 6 months, 17 days 4,577
Simmons, Claude Alvin $1,000,000.00 $5,944.18 3/3/2010 Capital Murder 12 years, 6 months, 0 days 4,560
Harvey, John Michael $608,333.34 $5,002.88 12/8/2004 Aggravated sexual assault of a child 12 years, 1 months, 13 days 4,423
Webb, Mark Amos $289,583.31 3/20/2002 Aggravated sexual assault 11 years, 6 months, 24 days 4,219
Thompson, Stephen Craig $289,583.31 $5,212.16 1/12/2005 Aggravated sexual assault of a child 11 years, 6 months, 13 days 4,208
Waller, James Douglas $1,209,166.67 $7,039.32 3/9/2007 Aggravated sexual abuse 10 years, 11 months, 12 days 3,992
Sturgeon, Richard Glen $853,333.33 5/12/2009 Aggravated Robbery 10 years, 7 months, 25 days 3,885
Giles, James Curtis $1,164,583.33 $6,922.50 6/20/2007 Aggravated Rape 10 years, 0 months, 0 days 3,650
Robinson, Anthony Todd $245,833.30 $4,751.24 11/14/2000 Aggravated sexual assault 9 years, 9 months, 25 days 3,580
Harbin, Philip Alan $733,333.33 $3,815.89 2/4/2009 Failure to register as a sex offender 9 years, 1 months, 11 days 3,326
Brodie, Steven Matthew $877,546.98 $4,298.75 11/10/2010 Aggravated sexual assault of a child 8 years, 6 months, 18 days 3,118
Washington, Darryl $653,333.33 5/23/2012 Aggravated Robbery 8 years, 1 months, 2 days 2,952
Porter, Allen Wayne $613,333.33 $3,022.00 12/8/2010 Aggravated sexual assault 7 years, 7 months, 24 days 2,789
Gossett, Andrew William $375,000.00 3/21/2007 Aggravated sexual assault 7 years, 5 months, 15 days 2,720
Barbosa, Mary Ann $370,833.33 $5,208.99 12/5/2005 Aggravated sexual abuse 7 years, 4 months, 12 days 2,687
Amezquita, Gilbert $333,333.33 $2,475.16 8/17/2007 Aggravated assault 6 years, 7 months, 26 days 2,426
Karage, Entre Nax $158,333.32 $2,496.43 12/22/2005 Murder 6 years, 3 months, 20 days 2,300
Rachell, Ricardo $493,333.33 $2,816.76 2/9/2009 Aggravated sexual assault 6 years, 1 months, 19 days 2,239
Settle, Daniel Roy $540,416.67 6/29/2011 Delivery of controlled substance 5 years, 6 months, 18 days 2,023
Criner, Roy Wayne $130,208.33 $2,201.73 8/15/2000 Aggravated sexual assault 5 years, 4 months, 17 days 1,962
Robertson, Shakara $400,000.00 5/23/2012 Aggravated robbery 5 years, 1 months, 0 days 1,855
Sutton, Josiah Elijah $118,749.97 $1,726.56 5/14/2004 Aggravated sexual assault 4 years, 8 months, 30 days 1,730
Love, William Cash $106,249.99 8/22/2003 Delivery of controlled substance 4 years, 2 months, 9 days 1,529
White, Kizzy Rashawn $99,999.96 $1,461.04 8/22/2003 Delivery of controlled substance 3 years, 11 months, 24 days 1,449
White, Kareem Abdul $135,772.74 $1,503.78 8/22/2003 Delivery of controlled substance 3 years, 11 months, 22 days 1,447
Allen, Dennis Mitchell $97,916.63 $1,592.02 8/22/2003 Delivery of controlled substance 3 years, 10 months, 24 days 1,419
Hall, Willie B. Jr. $97,916.63 $1,675.08 8/22/2003 Delivery of controlled substance 3 years, 10 months, 24 days 1,419
Jackson, Christopher Eugene $97,916.63 $1,516.85 8/22/2003 Delivery of controlled substance 3 years, 10 months, 24 days 1,419
Moore, Joe Welton $97,916.63 8/22/2003 Delivery of controlled substance 3 years, 10 months, 24 days 1,419
Williams, Jason Jerome $97,916.63 $1,454.16 8/22/2003 Delivery of controlled substance 3 years, 10 months, 24 days 1,419
Brookins, Freddie Wesley $83,333.32 $1,245.12 8/22/2003 Delivery of controlled substance 3 years, 4 months, 0 days 1,215
Turner, Keith Edward $81,249.99 $3,584.04 12/22/2005 Rape 3 years, 2 months, 6 days 1,161
Barber, Jason Glenn $77,083.33 $1,167.08 4/17/2002 Murder 3 years, 0 months, 17 days 1,112
Mata, Laura Ann $70,833.30 $1,200.26 8/22/2003 Delivery of controlled substance 2 years, 9 months, 6 days 1,006
Williams, Alberta Stell $68,833.30 8/22/2003 Delivery of controlled substance 2 years, 9 months, 5 days 1,005
Fields, Hilliard Eugene $459,583.33 $2,264.45 9/14/2011 Sexual assault 2 years, 8 months, 8 days 978
Smith, Yolanda Yvonne $64,583.31 $953.63 8/22/2003 Delivery of controlled substance 2 years, 6 months, 29 days 939
Montgomery, Patrick Logan $564,583.33 $3,286.80 11/24/2008 Indecency with a child 2 years, 5 months, 19 days 899
Contee, Darien $214,583.33 $1,015.28 8/5/2010 Possession of a Firearm 2 years, 5 months, 15 days 895
White, Michelle $62,499.98 $960.41 8/22/2003 Delivery of controlled substance 2 years, 5 months, 13 days 893
Williams, Joe Sidney $31,249.99 2/21/2002 Capital Murder 2 years, 5 months, 1 days 881
Ward, Nathaniel $58,333.32 10/29/2001 Aggravated robbery 2 years, 3 months, 6 days 826
McCray, Vincent Dwight $54,166.66 $926.64 8/22/2003 Delivery of controlled substance 2 years, 1 months, 6 days 766
Benard, Troy $52,083.33 8/22/2003 Delivery of controlled substance 2 years, 0 months, 6 days 736
Henton, Eugene Ivory $83,333.34 $1,036.62 2/15/2006 Sexual assault 1 years, 7 months, 10 days 585
Kelly, Denise Demeterise $37,499.98 8/22/2003 Delivery of controlled substance 1 years, 5 months, 24 days 539
Fry, Jason Paul $37,499.98 8/22/2003 Delivery of controlled substance 1 years, 5 months, 12 days 527
Wilson, Willa Finaye $16,666.64 $246.10 8/22/2003 Delivery of controlled substance 0 years, 7 months, 21 days 231
Kelly, Eliga Sr. $14,583.31 $429.79 8/22/2003 Delivery of controlled substance 0 years, 6 months, 28 days 208
Fredrick, Sherrie $40,000.00 9/28/2011 Possession of Controlled Susbstance 0 years, 5 months, 28 days 178
Shelton, Joseph Dean $6,249.99 $404.27 8/13/2003 Failure to register as a sex offender 0 years, 3 months, 0 days 90