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Alton Logan Cleared After 26 Years In Prison

CHICAGO (STNG) ― The wait is over for Alton Logan. Logan was released earlier this year after spending 26 years in prison for a killing another man confessed to. He had been waiting since then to see whether prosecutors would retry him.

Thursday morning, charges were formally dropped and Judge James Schreier vacated Logan's conviction for killing security guard Lloyd Wickliffe while robbing a McDonald's in 1982.

"I've been telling everyone for the last 26 years I didn't do it and finally they did the right thing," Logan said afterward, tears welling in his eyes.

Logan said he wanted an apology from Mayor Daley, who was state's attorney when he was convicted in the early 1980s.

"That's the only apology I want but I'll know I'll never get it," Logan said, flanked by family members,

Earlier this year, lawyers Jamie Kunz and Dale Coventry said that Andrew Wilson — a convicted cop killer who was their client — years ago admitted to them he had killed Wickliffe. The lawyers said they were bound by attorney-client privilege to keep Wilson's secret until Wilson died last November.

After Assistant Attorney General Richard Schwind said the office didn't not have enough evidence to prosecute Logan and would dismiss the charges, Schreier told Logan his 26-year incarceration was "most regrettable" and "season of purgatory."

The American justice system is "imperfect," but probably provided little consolation for Logan, Schreier said.

"Your long personal nightmare is over. Hopefully you'll live a long life as a free man, maybe even see your White Sox in another World Series," Schreier said.

Logan's relatives and supporters in the courtroom broke out in applause following Schreier's statements.

Logan will seek a pardon from Gov. Blagojevich, which would make him eligible for nearly $200,000 in compensation, according to Logan's attorney, Harold Winston.

Logan said he's had a hard time finding a job in construction, building maintenance and plumbing — the fields he's trained for. But the bulk of his frustration was lifted with his newfound freedom.

"Right now I'm happy it's over. I can finally go on with my life," said Logan, who is planning to attend the Whit Sox game Friday. "I can do what I want when I want to."

-- Sun-Times

(Source: Sun-Times News Group Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2008. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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