19 years for nothing: An innocent man speaks

Steven Barnes, who was convicted and sent to prison in 1989 for a crime that he did not commit, will discuss "19 Years for Nothing: An Innocent Man's Story," at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, in Gannett Auditorium, Palamountain Hall, on the Skidmore College campus. This location has been changed from the earlier-announced Davis Auditorium. 

Barnes was wrongfully convicted and sentenced in Oneida County to 25 years to life on the charge of rape and sodomy in the first degree and murder in the second degree. Although his conviction was based on inconclusive DNA results and shaky eyewitness testimony, he spent 19.5 years in prison in New York.

In 1993, the Innocence Project began representing Barnes and retested the DNA in 1996, which led to more inconclusive results. Finally in 2007, using advanced testing, Barnes' DNA did not match the sperm found on the body and clothing of the victim. On January 9, 2009, Barnes was fully exonerated and the charges against him were dropped. He later received $3.5 million dollars in compensation for his time wrongfully spent behind bars.

The perpetrator of the crime has never been apprehended.

Barnes's talk is sponsored by Skidmore's First-Year Experience and the Scribner Seminar Course on Forensic Science and Criminal (In)Justice, taught by Kimberly Frederick, professor of chemistry.

A website has been created to seek information on the murder of Kim Simon: www.rememberkimsimon.com.