Silver State Times

The Eighth Judicial District Court issued a Certificate of Innocence and an award of $351,390.40 on Jan. 4 to Luqris Thompson as compensation for the time Thompson spent incarcerated following his erroneous conviction in 2007, according to a press release.

On Oct. 31, 2022, Judge Gloria Sturman of the Eighth Judicial District Court entered stipulated orders for the award and certificate.

"I'm thrilled that Mr. Thompson has been officially declared an innocent man after serving time for a crime he did not commit,” Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford said. “While no amount of money can ever replace our freedom, I hope that this award will help Mr. Thompson restart the life that should never have been interrupted. I want to thank the attorneys in my office who have worked tirelessly on this case."

Despite the lack of any tangible evidence connecting Thompson to a robbery in the parking lot of the Las Vegas condominium complex where he lived in April 2007, he was later apprehended and found guilty of conspiracy to commit a felony, burglary, robbery, first-degree kidnapping and attempted grand larceny auto.

Although Thompson was given a sentence ranging from nine to 23 years, he persistently insisted that he was innocent throughout his trial and detention. One of the actual criminals, who had admitted their guilt and had served nearly four years in prison, got in touch with Thompson's stepfather in 2012 and assured him of his innocence. Following more inquiry, both of the real offenders confessed on oath, clearing Thompson.

Additionally, Assembly Bill 267, which was later amended by Assembly Bill 104 (2021), was adopted by the Nevada Legislature in 2019. It establishes a framework for compensating people who have been imprisoned unjustly if they can demonstrate, by a preponderance of the evidence, that they did not commit the crime for which they were found guilty, were not an accomplice and did not otherwise contribute to their own conviction.

Additional expenses are also allowed, such as reasonable legal bills, educational costs, counseling services and a few additional reimbursements. As a result of this law, Thompson is the seventh individual in Nevada to be issued a Certificate of Innocence.