Rep. Sweeney Announces State to Spend $2.7M on Wrongful Conviction Settlements for Two Cleveland-Area Residents

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Westlake) Monday announced that the Controlling Board approved $2.7M in state funds for damages to two Cleveland residents imprisoned by the state of Ohio on wrongful charges. Michael Sutton will be awarded $1.4M and Kenny Phillips will be awarded $1.3M as part of their settlement agreements for the nearly 14 years they each spent in prison.

“No amount of money can make up for the time these two men lost or the mental and physical hardships they faced while wrongfully incarcerated, and it saddens me that the state of Ohio failed these men so greatly. While these funds will help the two men start rebuilding their lives, we must do more to ensure that no other Ohioans are sentenced to jail time for crimes they did not commit. The State of Ohio can and must do better,” said Rep. Sweeney.

The Ohio Court of Claims will distribute the funds to the individuals. The current annual rate for wrongful imprisonment is $68,808 as determined by the Auditor of State’s office.