Charges dropped for Ohioan imprisoned for 20 years

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Prosecutors have dismissed charges against a northeast Ohio man who served about 20 years in prison for a 1993 killing but maintained his innocence.

A judge had ordered a new trial for Dewey Jones of Akron after tests showed his DNA didn’t match evidence at the scene.

Prosecutors today moved to dismiss the charges, saying evidence has degraded and witnesses have died, making a conviction unlikely.

Jones tells WEWS-TV he knew such a day would come but didn’t think it would take so long.

Until last year, Jones was imprisoned for the robbery and killing of 71-year-old Neal Rankin.

A spokeswoman for Ohio’s attorney general says the judge hasn’t decided whether to categorize the dismissal in a way that could allow for later prosecution of Jones if new evidence arises.