Man who spent 14 years in prison after being framed by the Tulsa cops for rape gets $14.5 million in damages Original Article Federal Jury Awards Tulsa Man Damages Over His Wrongful Imprisonment Big money for a Tulsa man wrongfully convicted of kidnapping and rape. A federal jury awards Arvin McGee $14.5-million in his lawsuit against the city of Tulsa. Arvin says he walked out of prison almost four years ago, after DNA evidence proved he did not kidnap and rape a woman in 1987. McGee told the News on 6, he didn't feel he had justice until he got this verdict. Relief, finally I have a jury to believe me after three trials, relief." It's a long time coming for a man who has been through so much. A federal jury decided that the city of Tulsa should pay McGee $1-million, for each year he spent behind bars for a crime he didn't commit. Eight people had compassion to do the right thing and they done it and I wish I could meet every last one of them and shake their hands." Arvin McGee was convicted of kidnapping and raping a woman in 1987. It took 14 years, for the system to figure out he didn't do it. He walked out of prison in February of 2002, after DNA proved he couldn't have committed the crimes. Arvins brother Calvin McGee: "he never experienced, when he went in he was 24 or 25, he never experienced the prime of his life." Its hard ya know sleepless nights, its difficult to think about, its just one day at a time, baby steps." McGee says its the simple things in life, like watching his 2-year-old daughter take her first steps that have mattered most. As for the money, he can only think of two things he really wants to do. Me and my members of my church I gonna build a church and then take care of my family that stood by me. Church and family that's all I can think about." Of course, this isn't completely over, the city has a right to appeal the decision. But Arvin McGee and his lawyer say they're not worried. McGee told the News on 6, he's considering writing a book. http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5722167,00.html Man Wins $14.5M for Wrongful Conviction Thursday March 30, 2006 7:46 PM TULSA, Okla. (AP) - A federal jury awarded $14.5 million in damages to a man who spent 14 years in prison for a rape conviction before DNA evidence exonerated him. Arvin McGee Jr., 44, was freed in 2002 after his conviction in the 1987 rape and kidnapping was overturned. He sued the city of Tulsa the following year, claiming his constitutional rights had been violated. ``It's justice,'' McGee said Wednesday after the jury announced its verdict. His lawsuit didn't name an amount. Deputy City Attorney Larry V. Simmons said the jury's decision was ``understandable in light of the fact that he was convicted of a crime he didn't commit.'' But he said the city would likely appeal. He could not say it might pay the $14.5 million if the appeal failed. McGee's lawsuit claimed a Tulsa police officer involved in the case acted with ``deliberate indifference'' toward McGee's constitutional rights in connection with a five-man photo lineup from which the victim identified McGee as her attacker. DNA testing later linked another man to the crime, but by that time, the seven-year statute of limitations that existed at the time of the crime had expired.