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After 24 years, St. Petersburg man to be freed

Alan Crotzer was convicted of two rapes in 1982. The State Attorney says DNA evidence proves his innocence.

By CANDACE RONDEAUX
Published January 13, 2006

	[Times photo: William Dunkley]
	Sisters Pearl Daniels, left, 50, Margie James, 53, and Sharon Watson, 41, of St. Petersburg, are trying to help free Alan Crotzer (right), who was convicted with their brother Douglas James of rape and robbery and has served almost 24 years of a more than 100-year sentence. They say Crotzer is innocent.
	Previous coverage DNA could free longtime inmate (Jan. 11) DNA tests, word on street agree (Dec. 11, 2005)

TAMPA - The Hillsborough State Attorney's Office says Alan Crotzer, a St. Petersburg man who has spent nearly 24 years in prison for two Tampa rapes, should be freed.

State Attorney Mark Ober announced his decision in a written statement Friday, saying that DNA evidence and eye-witness accounts point to Crotzer's innocence. The county's top prosecutor has asked a judge to throw out Crotzer's 1982 conviction and vacate his 100-year-plus prison sentence.

"After carefully weighing all available evidence, the State Attorney's Office has concluded that significant doubt exists as to Mr. Crotzer's guilt in this case," the statement said.

The decision marks the fifth time in recent years that a Florida inmate has been exonerated by DNA evidence. Once free, Crotzer, 45, will join a growing list of exonerated prisoners, adding to Florida's rank as the state with the most wrongful convictions on the books, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

"Today is a great and terrible day," said Sam Roberts, a member of Crotzer's defense team. "Although this tragic miscarriage of justice will finally be corrected, Alan Crotzer has spent more than half of his life in prison for crimes he didn't commit."

David Menschel, another member of Crotzer's defense team, said he hopes Crotzer will be able to walk out of prison a free man after a Jan. 23 hearing on the State Attorney's motion to vacate the conviction.

Accused of being one of three men who robbed a Tampa family and raped a 38-year-old woman and 12-year-old girl, Crotzer was arrested for the crime two days later at his girlfriend's St. Petersburg home on July 10, 1981.

[Last modified January 13, 2006, 19:53:09]