Non-IPNO exonerees

Years transpired between initial arrest and exoneration - 25
Cause of Wrongful Conviction - Eyewitness Misidentification 
Release/Exoneration Date - January 14, 2008

In Sabine Parish in 1982, Rickie Johnson became the suspect in a rape case. Earlier that year, a woman was raped; her attacker told her his name was Marcus Johnson and that he was on probation in Leesville. When the Leesville Sheriff was contacted, there wasn't a Marcus Johnson on file, but Rickie shared the same last name as the one the rapist had given. An eight-year-old photo of Rickie was placed in a photo lineup consisting of only three pictures. The victim identified Rickie as her attacker. Testing on the semen left by the perpetrator revealed that Rickie's blood type - which is shared by 30% of African American males - matched that of the rapist. He was convicted of aggravated rape January 7, 1983, and sentenced to life without parole. Exoneree Calvin Willis, who met Rickie while at Angola, convinced the Innocence Project to take on Rickie's case. In 2007, DNA testing excluded Rickie and included another man who was serving life in prison for a different rape. Rickie was released and exonerated on January 14, 2008, at the urging of Don Burkett, the District Attorney of Sabine Parish. Rickie had served 25 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. 

RIckie Johnson is also mentioned on the Innocence Project website.