Jackson Free Press

(Read the Cedric Willis story here, and click to view an interview with intern Darrell Creecy.)

The City of Jackson is closer to settling the Cedric Willis case. The City Council could vote as soon as Jan. 24 to give Willis $195,000 for his wrongful arrest for murder and rape.

Willis, who served 12 years in prison until he was exonerated in 2006, sued the city of Jackson in 2007 for $36 million for wrongful arrest. When Willis left prison, he had received no education, no job training and had not a penny to his name. He was exonerated because The Innocence Project showed that District Attorney Ed Peters' office did not present evidence in the original trial that would have proved his innocence.

Pieter Teeuwissen, city attorney, told the council at its Jan. 10 meeting that the negotiations in the case were going well.

"I'm pleased to announce there is a proposed amount," he said, then gave the amount as $195,000. "We are not admitting liability."

He said the city would place this item on the council's next agenda for a vote. The next regular council meeting is Jan. 24.