After 28 1/2 years in federal prison, Richard LaFuente is finally free, The Fargo Forum reports.

LaFuente was convicted for a 1983 murder on the Spirit Lake Nation in North Dakota. He continues to maintain his innocence, a position that hindered quest for parole.

“We are thrilled that Richard is no longer in prison, but there is still much work to be done to overturn his conviction,” Julie Jonas of the Minnesota Innocence Project told the paper. “We have been working on his case for 10 years because we truly believe he is innocent, and we will continue to fight to prove it.”

LaFuente was finally granted released by the U.S. Parole Commission last year. He was hailed as a model prisoner.

Get the Story:
Man convicted in 1983 assault and murder of former Devils Lake police officer leaves prison (The Fargo Forum 6/5)

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Spirit Lake Nation man maintains innocence for murder in 1986 (11/12)