When he was sentenced to life in prison without parole, James Earl Rivera was 32 years old. After 22 years, he's now expected to walk free again.
A new law signed in September amended the felony murder law restricting it to those directly linked to the crime.Rivera was convicted of murder alongside two other suspects, while committing attempted robbery, but wasn't the shooter.
Since Rivera wasn't a major participant in the crime, he will be re-sentenced only on the robbery charge, and benefit from the already served time.
"I think the law was very harsh and cruel and i am glad that the law changed to a more humane understanding of what murder is and is not" his attorney Deborah Levy.
