In April 2020, Representative Ashley V. Gantt (D- Miami) was selected to serve on an Independent Review Panel for the Conviction Review Unit for State Attorney Michael J. Satz Office of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit under supervision of Assistant State Attorney Arielle Demby Berger. Attorney Gantt, along with four other attorneys, reviewed the evidence presented against Leonard Cure to assess whether he was wrongfully convicted. On December 8, 2020, the panel recommended that based upon the CRU investigation and the panel’s review, Mr. Cure’s judgment and sentence should be vacated, and the State Attorney’s Office should enter a Nolle Prosequi as to both counts. On December 14, 2020, the State Attorney’s office filed the State’s Notice of Nolle Prosequi, dropping the charges against Mr. Cure.
Senate Bill 8 was introduced in the House by attorney Representative Michael “Mike” Gottlieb (D-Davie). Now that the bill has been signed, Florida’s Chief Financial Officer will provide compensation for Mr. Cure’s wrongful incarceration of 16 years and tuition and fees for up to a total of 120 hours of instruction at any career center, college or university established in the State of Florida are waived.
Representative Gantt remarked, “With the Governor signing this bill, Mr. Cure is truly able to have a fresh start. We recognize that no amount of money could ever compensate him for the years he lost and the memories he can never make with his family. This is truly a full circle moment for me as a member of the CRU Unit that exonerated him and now as a State Representative who not only voted to right this egregious wrong, but it was also my honor to be a co-prime sponsor with Representative Gottlieb. All my best wishes to Mr. Cure.”
