Four women jailed for child sex crimes are CLEARED after serving 15 years in prison…and could now get millions in compensation
Known collectively as the "San Antonio 4," they could get up to £64,000 for each year they spent behind bars
FOUR women who spent nearly 15 years in prison for child sex crimes have been declared innocent.
Elizabeth Ramirez, Kristie Mayhugh, Cassandra Rivera and Anna Vasquez, who were known collectively as the "San Antonio 4," were told by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Wednesday that the majority opinion was they did not sexually assault two young girls.
Now the four women could be in line to get compensation worth millions of dollars.
Vasquez told : "We can't believe it!"
Their lawyer Mike Ware, from the Innocence Project said: "It's going to be a very good Thanksgiving for all four of them.
"The court has issued a very well-reasoned and excellent opinion. Really a courageous opinion."
Ware added he was going to ask the court to issue a formal mandate as quickly as possible, which would mean the women could then claim for £64,000 ($80,000 US) per year they have spent in prison.
The case of the San Antonio 4 made headlines when the women were convicted back in 1998.
Two of Ramirez's nieces, aged 7 and 9, accused them of sexually assaulting and threatening to kill them in 1994.
Mayhugh, Rivera and Vasquez were all sentenced to 15 years and Ramirez to 37 years in prison.
But then one of the nieces recanted her testimony, and more evidence was found which suggested their innocence.
reported she told authorities family members said to make up the story because they did not approve of Ramirez's lifestyle, who is gay.
Vasquez was put on parole, and in 2013 three of the women were released.
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Ware said in an interview earlier this year with the news network: "I think the only reason that the investigation was seriously pursued, why there wasn't more skepticism about the preposterous allegations in the first place, was because these four women had recently come out as gay, that they were openly gay."
Nico LaHood, from the Bexar County Criminal District Attorney said his office worked had worked with the defence to clear their names
In an email to the New York Daily News he wrote: "With today's announcement, we believe the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals' decision did that.
"The (court's) opinion has exonerated the women, and their convictions are overturned...I pray peace and a new beginning for them."
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