Reverend Darron Carmon, once wrongly imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, has recently settled for $4.4 million with the Town of Winterville over this grave miscarriage of justice.

In 1994, Carmon was convicted of armed robbery but won a recent lawsuit against the town and its police officers after proving his innocence, The Christian Post reported.

Reverend Darron Carmon’s ordeal began nearly three decades ago when he was accused of an armed robbery at a local convenience store. Despite his claims of innocence, authorities arrested him based on witness identification by a store clerk at the Fresh Way store during the investigation.

Details Emerge Around The Misguided Arrest

Carmon's arrest was primarily based on this eyewitness testimony. During the early '90s, such reliance on a single witness was common, as noted by the district attorney involved in the original prosecution. However, this practice can lead to mistakes, as demonstrated by Carmon’s wrongful conviction.

Authorities failed to consider that the fingerprint evidence found at the scene did not match Carmon’s fingerprints. This critical piece of evidence was apparently concealed during the initial investigation, a fact that surfaced only during recent proceedings.

Legal Battle Leads To Vital Revelations

Carmon served eight years in prison before being released in 2002 for good behavior, continuing his fight to clear his name. In 2022, Pitt County Superior Court Judge Marvin Blount overturned his conviction.

After his exoneration, Carmon sought to rebuild his life, founding two churches: the Rebuild Christian Center Church in Winterville and the Greater Village Gate Church in Lewiston, demonstrating his commitment to his community and faith.

Church Leader’s Efforts Culminate In Pardon

In recognition of the miscarriage of justice, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper granted Carmon a pardon of innocence in November. This formal acknowledgment was not only a personal victory for Carmon but a testament to his unwavering faith and perseverance.

Despite clearing his name and receiving a pardon, the battle was not over. Carmon filed a lawsuit against the Town of Winterville and the arresting officers as negotiation attempts failed. The lawsuit claimed that the officers involved had knowingly concealed evidence crucial to Carmon's defense.

The Path To Justice Through Settlement

The legal battle culminated in October when court-ordered mediation led to a $4.4 million settlement facilitated by the insurance companies representing the town and the officers. According to a press release from Winterville, the settlement was paid entirely by insurance and did not include an admission of wrongdoing by the town or the officers.

This conclusion brings a mixed feeling of resolution and bitterness for Carmon. “I don’t agree with what I had to do to get here. I feel like it should’ve been a simpler process. I’ve had to prove my innocence about three times,” said Carmon, reflecting on the arduous journey he had to undertake to achieve justice.

Looking Forward: A New Chapter Begins

Amid these developments, Carmon’s focus remains fixed on community service and advocacy. He is involved in leading organizations aimed at mentoring young children without fathers and addressing issues of racism through 'People Against Racism.'

“Next for me is to continue what I have already been doing,” Carmon stated, committed to moving forward and contributing positively to society despite the years lost to wrongful imprisonment.

With this settlement, Winterville and its officers hope to close this chapter and move forward. However, for Reverend Darron Carmon and many like him, the story is a reminder of the enduring work necessary to safeguard justice and integrity within the legal system.