In a landmark decision, an Oklahoma judge on Tuesday declared Glynn Simmons innocent after enduring 48 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, according to CNN.

This is believed to be the longest time served by anyone wrongfully convicted in the United States.

"This is a day we've been waiting on for a long time. It finally came," said Simmons, 70, expressing his relief.

Simmons served 48 years, one month, and 18 days following his conviction for the 1974 murder of Carolyn Sue Rogers.

"We can say justice was done today, finally," Simmons said, adding that he is happy.

He now holds the unfortunate distinction of the longest exoneree in the US, according to the National Registry of Exonerations.

"Obviously, we're just very happy," expressed Joe Norwood, an attorney representing Simmons.

Norwood conveyed the sense of vindication and relief felt by Simmons, emphasizing that having his name cleared of the charges brought a profound sense of happiness.

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Glynn Simmons: Longest Exoneree's Legal Battle

Carolyn Sue Rogers, a 30-year-old store clerk, was tragically shot in the head during a robbery on December 30, 1974, per ABC 10 News.

Another woman, Belinda Brown, who was present at the store during the incident, also sustained a gunshot wound to the head but survived.

Despite Brown initially expressing uncertainty about identifying the perpetrators due to her focus on the guns during the robbery, the police later arrested 22-year-old Simmons and 21-year-old Don Roberts for capital murder.

Glynn Simmons maintained his innocence, testifying that he was not in Oklahoma during the murder.

Instead, he claimed to be in Harvey, Louisiana, playing pool that day and had only arrived in the state less than a week later to stay with his aunt. Numerous individuals testified to seeing him at the pool hall.

Despite Simmons' testimony and alibi, both he and Roberts were convicted on June 5, 1975, and initially sentenced to death.

Later, their sentences were modified to life in prison following a Supreme Court ruling deeming the death penalty unconstitutional due to its unequal application.

Roberts was released on parole in 2008, according to the district attorney's office, while Simmons continued to maintain his innocence throughout the years.

Glynn Simmons consistently maintained his innocence throughout the legal battle.

On July 20, a judge vacated Simmons' conviction and ordered a new trial, citing evidence withheld by prosecutors.

After two months out on bond, the judge granted a motion to dismiss the case due to a lack of remaining evidence, leading to Simmons' release.

Seeking formal recognition of innocence, Simmons filed a motion in October, which was granted by Judge Amy Palumbo on Tuesday.

"This Court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the offense for which Mr. Simmons was convicted... was not committed by Mr. Simmons," said Judge Palumbo.

Upon hearing the ruling, Simmons reflected on resilience and tenacity, urging others not to believe exoneration is impossible.

Simmons, after obtaining life insurance money following his spouse's death, hired a private investigator who uncovered key information challenging Brown's identification of the suspects.

This information led to the vacating of Simmons' conviction.

Compensation and Legislative Changes

The ruling makes Simmons eligible for up to $175,000 in compensation from the state for wrongful conviction, AP reports.

It opens the possibility of a federal lawsuit against Oklahoma City and law enforcement involved in his arrest and conviction.

Current Oklahoma law limits compensation to $175,000. Still, there are proposed legislative changes to increase it to $50,000 yearly spent in prison, Yahoo! News noted.

Glynn Simmons, currently living on GoFundMe donations exceeding $100,000, intends to use the funds for housing, clothing, food, and medical treatments for liver cancer.

He also aims to advocate for systemic changes to prevent similar injustices.

"I plan to use my remaining time to help others still stuck where I was. We need to fix this system so that what happened to me will never happen to anyone else again!" Simmons' donation page reads.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Oklahoma man exonerated after 50 years in prison - From NBC News