January 8, 2013
CULPEPER, Virginia (AP)— A man whose capital murder conviction was overturned is suing the Culpeper County sheriff, four other officers, a former prosecutor and an informant.
Media outlets report that Michael Hash of Culpeper alleges the defendants engaged in a concerted effort to convict him even though there wasn't any credible evidence against him.
Hash served 12 years of a life sentence before a federal judge overturned his conviction in February 2012.
U.S. District Judge James Turk cited police and prosecutorial misconduct. In August 2012, Turk approved a special prosecutor's motion to drop the case.
Hash was 15 at the time of the 1996 slaying of 74-year-old Thelma D. Scroggins. He was convicted in 2001.
His federal lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and requests a jury trial.
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