Michael Phillips has been spending most of his time these days living in a tiny room in a no-frills northeast Dallas nursing home.Until recently, he had a roommate who slept in a bed 2 feet away, and staff brought him three square meals a day.

Coach Outlet Online

Only a few hours passed each day in which he didn't think about his burden of four decades: being a convicted sex offender.That was before Friday,

Coach Outlet

when Phillips was officially exonerated by Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins' Conviction Integrity Unit, which determined via DNA testing that he was falsely convicted. The state will now pay him handsomely for its mistake.

Coach Factory Outlet

It was a first-of-its-kind exoneration in that Phillips wasn't clamoring for vindication. As was the case when he accepted a plea deal in 1990, he felt that his race would preclude him from getting a fair shake in the justice system, so he just accepted his plight.After entering hisplea,

Coach Outlet Online

Phillips, a 57-year-old African-American who grew up in New Orleans, served 12 years in a Texas prison for the rape of a 16-year-old white girl at a Dallas motel where he'd worked as a maintenance man.Confined to a wheelchair due to his battle with sickle cell anemia, Phillips has been out of jail since 2002. He has been living in nursing homes the past few years as his health has spiraled downward.

Coach Factory Outlet

Though he's been out of prison for 12 years, he considers his life one long sentence, as he was forced to wear the branding of a convicted sex offender.

Coach Outlet Store Online

In his first week as a free man, Phillips is overjoyed and struggles to put his emotions into words, instead pointing to the spirituality that helped him cope all these years."A-W-E doesn't describe the feeling.

Coach Outlet Store Online

I don't know if they got a word that describes how I feel. To have a leash taken off my neck and off my ankle, I know how my ancestors felt when they got free,"

Gucci Belts

he said.Falsely AccusedAccording to the Dallas Police Department report from September 28, 1990,

Coach Factory Outlet

the victim was awakened by a man wearing a black and white ski mask.While struggling with the man and biting his hand several times,

Coach Outlet

the victim told police, she pulled up her assailant's mask and recognized him as Phillips, a man she had seen living at the motel.The following month,

Louis Vuitton Outlet

detectives showed the victim a six-picture lineup, and she again identified Phillips as the man who raped her.(The Dallas Police Department no longer presents photos side by side,

Coach Handbags Outlet

because the district attorney's office says it suggests that the perpetrator must be present and compels the victim to pick one.)It didn't help that Phillips had a record.

Coach Outlet

In an interview with CNN, Phillips acknowledged committing a home burglary when he was 19."Being young and foolish, there were things you do that were juvenile,"

Coach Outlet

he said.But at 32, he was trying to make an honest living and was shocked to hear that he was being charged with a rape that he hadn't committed.

Chanel Handbags

He feels that the prior burglary conviction and a "broken criminal justice system" were to blame for the bad advice he got next."The first paid public defender came in there and said, '

Louis Vuitton

Mr. Phillips, the DA went back and saw that you just got out of prison a couple of years ago, so they want to lock you up for 99 years.' He thought he was doing me a favor. He said, '

Gucci Belt

You could get life, so you are going to take this 99 years.' "

Many different shapes and styles will fit you. NFL Customized Jerseys are good designs and provide you a happy sport moment. Our products are authentic quality with original box. Discount NFL Jerseys will cost you less money. I am sure that NFL Jerseys online shopping is your best choiceSo, please don’t hesitate, just contact us for details to get the cheap NFL Jerseys! We will be your reliable business partner!

Glad to see you're still at it! if you are ever looking for a team, check out MarathonMamas & Maniacs. Hope to see you there! :o)

I'm so impressed that you can do fartleks that early in the morning...

Inspirational thoughts yesterday! Thanks! It was a good kick in the pants!

creative1, not so shaby yourself today with the 11mi run. Thanks for the encouragement. I see that you also have a race coming up soon . Go SPF Go. :)

SPF is BRILLIANT!
now I'll never leave home without it! :P

CREATiVE1, you are awesome.

i think i responded to many of your questions in my last post on the public thread: http://peertrainer.com/LoungeCommunityThread.aspx?ForumID=1&ThreadID=52328

and have gotten to thinking about lots of things you've said.

first i should assure you that i am happy. and i should assure you that i am not fixating on the numbers on the scale but am instead fixating on the very simple fact that i still eat when i am not hungry and i've still got flab.

and i'm sick of both. i'm sick of knowing what's right and still doing what's wrong. and fixating on that simple fact.

so, i'm starting a group right now titled: "knock it off you idiot." come join me? please.

Congrats on your amazing run!!

Love your quote today Creative1... Congrats on the continued progress!