Georgian authorities released Maurice Jimmerson on Wednesday under a plea agreement, following more than ten years of incarceration without a conviction, as reported by Atlanta News First.
Jimmerson and four others were arrested by Georgian police in connection to a double murder case dating back to May 2013, according to the outlet. Despite most suspects being acquitted by juries years ago, Jimmerson remained incarcerated without trial or legal representation, Atlanta News First revealed. Andrew Fleischman took on Jimmerson’s case pro bono after learning about it through an investigation by Atlanta News First in 2023.
“You don’t need to have a law degree to know something’s wrong here,” Fleischman stated. “We should not punish people until we’ve proven they’ve committed a crime.” Two months after Fleischman’s involvement, Jimmerson faced trial, resulting in a mistrial due to the jury’s inability to reach a verdict, Atlanta News First stated.
Subsequently, he was returned to jail. Jimmerson’s release on Wednesday came through a negotiated plea deal, where he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and firearm possession, in exchange for a 30-year probation sentence, with 11 years already served, as per the outlet.
As part of the plea agreement, Jimmerson must find a new residence within 45 days, Atlanta News First reported. Originally facing the prospect of 235 years in prison based on the initial charges, Jimmerson maintains his innocence and attributes his release to the attention brought to his case by Atlanta News First.
Andrew Fleischman celebrated his client’s release, expressing relief over the outcome of his first murder trial as lead counsel. “I cannot tell you how much sleep I lost over it. I am so thrilled he got this result,” he tweeted. Jimmerson’s prolonged pre-trial detention ranks among the longest in U.S. history, according to Atlanta News First.
A video shared by reporter Andy Pierrotti captured Jimmerson’s emotional reunion with his family upon leaving prison. “It’s their [Jimmerson and his daughter’s] first hug in more than a decade,” Pierrotti noted in his tweet.
