Hampton, Va. (WTKR) - After weeks of encountering red tape in clearing his name after the Court of Appeals of Virginia exonerated him, Johnathan Montgomery has shared the good news that all those roadblocks have gone away.
His listing on the sex offender registries in Florida and North Carolina have been taken down and his restrictions on movement and use of social media has ended with his probation being terminated.
It was November of 2012 when NewsChannel 3 first got involved in Montgomery's story.
We waited with his family outside the Greensville Correctional Facility after his accuser Elizabeth Coast recanted, admitting her whole story of sexual abuse was a lie.
When his release was blocked, only NewsChannel 3 took action by going to Richmond and asking then-Governor Bob McDonnell to act.
He did, setting Montgomery free and putting him on the path to clearing his name through a Writ of Actual Innocence.
That was granted by the Court of Appeals of Virginia last month, erasing his convictions.
Shortly after though his family expressed frustrations at the roadblocks they were encountering with the sex offender registries and probation.
Now with all the roadblocks out of the way, Montgomery can finally and truly begin to get on with his life.
Related:
Montgomery’s expungement order signed in Hampton
Montgomery family expresses frustration with “brick walls”
Johnathan Montgomery’s name taken off Florida, NC sex offender registries
Johnathan Montgomery granted Writ of Actual Innocence
Johnathan Montgomery innocence case argued in Richmond
Johnathan Montgomery’s innocence case to be heard in Richmond
