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Man who maintained innocence for 25 years released from jail, but freedom came at a price

Calvin Bright is a free man, after spending 25 years in prison for allegedly killing two people in 1994. But his freedom comes with some serious restrictions.

WASHINGTON — "We take for granted our youth," Calvin Bright said, while sitting in his attorney's office in Northwest, D.C. "Now, I don't have to worry about someone telling me when I can look at TV, when I can take a shower, bath myself." 

It's a new life for a man that's spent the last 25 years behind bars in more than a dozen facilities.

"I can take off and go anywhere I want to go," he explained as he fully begins to embrace his new life.

Bright, 47, was convicted of shooting and killing Tammy Peay and William Ramsey in 1994. Years after his conviction, prosecutors disclosed new evidence. It was a letter from one officer to another naming another possible suspect by the name of "Catman."

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David Benowitz, Bright's attorney since 2007, said had the note been available during the initial trial, the case would have been handled differently. 

"We hear almost every day about cases around the country where people have been wrongfully convicted of crimes they didn't commit," Benowitz said. "And evidence years later comes out to show the person didn't commit the crime." 


The new evidence helped Bright's legal team negotiate a deal for his release, but it came with conditions: Bright's sentence would be changed to time served, but he would still be considered legally guilty of the crimes, as he waived his right to appeal his guilty conviction, and he agreed to five years on probation among other conditions.

Bright said he stands behind his decision to accept the deal. Benowitz said had they continued litigating the case, it would have taken upwards of five years before Bright would have been released, assuming the judgment was in his favor.

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Bright took the deal, because he said he wanted to live his life and get back to his family. From the beginning, Bright has maintained his innocence.

"I weighed the pros and the cons of the deal," he said. "We finally had evidence on our side."

But for Bright, he wants the type of future his last name suggests. He plans to finish his associate's degree and continue on with his education. He also wants to begin a career in criminal investigation.

And to the family of victims, he offers a helping hand.

"If there is anything I could help them with ... they can reach out to me," Bright said.


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