New York Metropolis — In 1997, Walter Johnson was sentenced to 5 life phrases for a theft conviction at a time when he glided by “King Tut” and was referred to as a infamous New York legal. However 27 years later, the identical decide who locked him away believed the previous inmate deserved freedom.
“My solely expectation was to go away jail with a toe tag,” Johnson informed CBS Information whereas, for the primary time, sitting beside the decide who freed him.
A federal jury in 1996 convicted Johnson of seven counts, together with theft, witness tampering and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.
Final summer time, 90-year-old U.S. District Choose Frederic Block decided to offer Johnson a second likelihood in a landmark ruling the place Block acknowledged that he had been inexperienced in the course of the preliminary sentencing and that the not often used Nineties “three strikes regulation” — which required life sentences for sure third legal offenses — was antiquated and too rigid.
Johnson, 61, was launched final October after Block filed lots of of pages of motions looking for early launch with a letter of assist from one in all his theft victims.
“That was one of the best day of my life,” Johnson mentioned.
Johnson remains to be on supervised launch within the court docket system, and if he commits one other crime, he’ll return to jail.
He managed an immaculately clear file throughout his three many years in jail, and was a mannequin inmate who mentored and contributed to jail packages.
“We do not let everybody out of jail,” Block informed CBS Information. “Individuals like [Johnson] who’re deserving, who’ve proven they’ve rehabilitated themselves in jail are those who we let loose.”
The Justice Division opposed his launch, arguing Johnson’s rehabilitation and regret weren’t sufficiently “extraordinary and compelling.”
However the division’s argument failed after Block inspired his colleagues and extra states to contemplate second likelihood legal guidelines.
Block used a brand new provision within the “First Step Act” justice reform regulation that President Trump signed into regulation in 2018 that aided in Johnson’s launch.
Now, Johnson resides an entire 180 and simply used a cellular phone for the primary time a couple of months in the past. He is already a social media influencer.
“I am making an attempt to enlighten folks to know the significance of their freedom, that each one it takes is one miscalculation to throw your life away,” Johnson mentioned.
Block mentioned he believes Johnson’s story is one in all hope and redemption.
“And with out hope, folks haven’t any purpose to proceed to stay.”
