DNA clears Texas man who spent 30 years in prison

DALLAS (AP) - Dupree was charged in 1979 with raping and robbing a 26-year-old woman and sentenced in 1980 to 75 years in prison for aggravated robbery...

DALLAS (AP) — A 51-year-old Texas man who spent 30 years in prison for aggravated robbery will likely have his conviction set aside after DNA testing proved his innocence.

An exoneration hearing for Cornelius Dupree Jr. is scheduled for Tuesday in Dallas. If his conviction is overturned, Dupree would have spent more time wrongly imprisoned than any other DNA exoneree in Texas.

The district attorney’s office said Monday it supports Dupree’s innocence claim.

Dupree was charged in 1979 with raping and robbing a 26-year-old woman and sentenced in 1980 to 75 years in prison for aggravated robbery.

He was released on parole in July. DNA test results came back 10 days after his release, excluding him as the rapist.

Dupree’s case was turned down three times by the Court of Criminal Appeals.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.

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