HOUSTON -
Allen Porter has his freedom. He was serving a life sentence for a sexual assault in 1990. But not anymore.
39 News was there for Porter's release and learned the story behind Porter's conviction. Following a thorough investigation by the Harris County District Attorney's Office that he was wrongfully convicted of a crime in 1990, Allen Wayne Porter was been released from prison Friday.
Porter, now age 39, is beginning the next chapter of his life.
"Everybody makes mistakes," Porter said shortly after walking out of the Inmate Processing Center in Downtown Houston.
"I think that's mainly what it was. [Investigators] just made a big mistake," he said.
That mistake cost Porter nearly 20 years of his life. He was sent to prison in 1990 for a robbery and rape in Southwest Houston. Three men raided a home in search of money and drugs, but Porter was not with them. Porter was arrested while attending his nephew's trial.
"We all make mistakes," Porter's sister, Sandra Reeve, saids. "But thank God that those mistakes can be corrected."
"I always had family that's real grounded as Christians," Porter said. "God was the number one thing that I always kept first, and that's what kept me going."
During Porter's 19-year stay in prison, he challenged his conviction several times.
"Don't ever give up because, I mean, it's never over," Porter said. "As long as you're breathing, just keep fighting."
There is another step in the legal process for Porter. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has to sign off on the findings before everything becomes official.
"We're confident and hopefully they will do that," Porter's attorney, Casey Garrett, said. "We feel quite sure that they will based on the evidence that came out in the hearing yesterday."
"There came a time that we felt that he would not be released," Reeves admitted. "There also comes a time when you also want to give up. We did not give up."
According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Porter has sexual assault, rape, homicide and cocaine possession on his record dating back 20 years ago.
There is no word yet on how that could impact the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals' overturning of his conviction and life prison term.
"You know Mr. Porter was a very young man when he went to prison. Sadly, he was just 19 years old," Garrett said.
"I'm going to go enjoy my family first and foremost," Porter said.
39 News learned that DNA evidence testing six years ago did not link Porter to rape; however, that wasn't enough to establish his innocence.
Porter's bond was reportedly set at $30,000.
39 News was there for Porter's release and learned the story behind Porter's conviction. Following a thorough investigation by the Harris County District Attorney's Office that he was wrongfully convicted of a crime in 1990, Allen Wayne Porter was been released from prison Friday.
Porter, now age 39, is beginning the next chapter of his life.
"Everybody makes mistakes," Porter said shortly after walking out of the Inmate Processing Center in Downtown Houston.
"I think that's mainly what it was. [Investigators] just made a big mistake," he said.
That mistake cost Porter nearly 20 years of his life. He was sent to prison in 1990 for a robbery and rape in Southwest Houston. Three men raided a home in search of money and drugs, but Porter was not with them. Porter was arrested while attending his nephew's trial.
"We all make mistakes," Porter's sister, Sandra Reeve, saids. "But thank God that those mistakes can be corrected."
"I always had family that's real grounded as Christians," Porter said. "God was the number one thing that I always kept first, and that's what kept me going."
During Porter's 19-year stay in prison, he challenged his conviction several times.
"Don't ever give up because, I mean, it's never over," Porter said. "As long as you're breathing, just keep fighting."
There is another step in the legal process for Porter. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has to sign off on the findings before everything becomes official.
"We're confident and hopefully they will do that," Porter's attorney, Casey Garrett, said. "We feel quite sure that they will based on the evidence that came out in the hearing yesterday."
"There came a time that we felt that he would not be released," Reeves admitted. "There also comes a time when you also want to give up. We did not give up."
According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Porter has sexual assault, rape, homicide and cocaine possession on his record dating back 20 years ago.
There is no word yet on how that could impact the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals' overturning of his conviction and life prison term.
"You know Mr. Porter was a very young man when he went to prison. Sadly, he was just 19 years old," Garrett said.
"I'm going to go enjoy my family first and foremost," Porter said.
39 News learned that DNA evidence testing six years ago did not link Porter to rape; however, that wasn't enough to establish his innocence.
Porter's bond was reportedly set at $30,000.
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