Aaron Lyttle Champions Post-Conviction DNA Testing That May Clear Man Of Decades-Old Rape Conviction

Aaron Lyttle Champions Post-Conviction DNA Testing That May Clear Man Of Decades-Old Rape Conviction

March 21st, 2013

Aaron Lyttle has been an Associate attorney in the Cheyenne Office of LRWB since his graduation from the University of Wyoming College of Law.  During law school, Aaron became involved with the Rocky Mountain Innocence Center.  More specifically, as a student intern he took up the case of Andrew J. Johnson.   Mr. Johnson was convicted in 1989 for first-degree sexual assault and battery and sentenced to life in prison (under Wyoming’s then habitual offender statute).   At the time of his conviction, DNA technology did not exist as it does today.

After graduating law school and joining LRWB, the Rocky Mountain Innocence Center engaged Aaron in regards to the continued pro bono representation of Mr. Johnson, to which Aaron graciously agreed.  On February 8, 2013, in response to Aaron’s motion, Mr. Johnson became the first inmate in Wyoming history to get approval for post-conviction DNA testing.  The initial results are in and they show that the DNA from the sexual assault kit in 1989 DOES NOT match Mr. Johnson.

While the legal process for Mr. Johnson still must clear a few hurdles, congratulations to Aaron Lyttle and the Rocky Mountain Innocence Center for their efforts.