CONCORD, N.C. — The city of Concord's record settlement for Ronnie Long's wrongful imprisonment could end up costing taxpayers.
Long was forced to serve 44 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. After his release, he sued the state, the FBI and the city of Concord. As part of the settlement, Concord had to pay out $22 million.
In the settlement, the city of Concord acknowledged and accepted responsibility for the significant errors in judgment and willful misconduct by previous city employees which led to Long’s wrongful conviction and 44-year imprisonment.
WCNC Charlotte has learned the city filed a lawsuit after its insurance company refused to pay out. In the lawsuit, the city claims taxes will have to go up. WCNC Charlotte has reached out to the city of Concord and its attorneys for a statement on the lawsuit.
Long was 21 years old in 1976 when he was sentenced to life in prison for a rape he didn’t commit. He spent 44 years behind bars until the courts finally overturned his conviction in 2020, citing the “troubling and striking pattern of deliberate police suppression of material evidence.”
He was finally set free on Aug. 27, 2020.
Ronnie Long appeal and prison release timeline
Nov. 1, 2009: Ronnie Long says he has evidence that proves his innocence
March 23, 2010: North Carolina Supreme Court agrees to take up Long's case
Aug. 18, 2014: Ronnie Long gets married in prison while fighting for his release
Feb. 22, 2020: Long's attorneys uncover that Concord police hid evidence and handpicked the jury that convicted him
March 18, 2020: Long's appeal is pushed back due to COVID-19 delays in the courts
May 7, 2020: Long's appeal is finally heard by North Carolina judges
July 24, 2020: Long's mother dies while he awaits his release from prison
Aug. 26, 2020: Ronnie Long's 1976 conviction is vacated, effective immediately
Aug. 27, 2020: Ronnie Long is released from prison after 44 years
Aug. 31, 2020: Cabarrus County says it won't retry Long's case, ending the decades-long saga
Sept. 9, 2020: Long admits he's facing new struggles after spending 44 years in prison
Dec. 20, 2020: Long is pardoned by Gov. Roy Cooper
April 6, 2021: Long says $750,000 issued by state isn't enough, fights to change law
May 3, 2021: Long sues city of Concord, detectives accused of hiding evidence
Jan. 9, 2021: Ronnie Long receives record $25 million settlement for wrongful imprisonment