In 1998, Sherman Townsend of Minneapolis was convicted of first-degree burglary and sentenced to 20 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.

He was released from prison in 2008 after serving 10 years when the Great North Innocence Project uncovered evidence proving that he had been framed by the original “eyewitness.” But the felony conviction remained on his record.

In July 2025—almost 28 years after the incident that changed Mr. Townsend’s life—the Minnesota Board of Pardons unanimously voted to pardon his conviction due to his innocence.

Maslon attorneys Jevon Bindman and Emily Taylor represented Mr. Townsend pro bono in conjunction with the Innocence Project. Paralegal Valerie Wolfe and Legal Administrative Assistants Kathy Burns and Madison Bailey also supported the effort.

Before voting to pardon Townsend, Gov. Tim Walz said, “Mr. Townsend, I recognize that there is no apology for the 10 years that you spent in prison, but it’s clear to me that we are lucky to have you in our community.”