Jail time given over wrongful conviction

GEORGETOWN, Texas — A former Texas prosecutor who won a conviction that sent an innocent man to prison for nearly 25 years agreed Friday to serve 10 days in jail and complete 500 hours of community service.

Ken Anderson also will be disbarred and fined $500 as part of a sweeping deal that was expected to end all criminal and civil cases against the ex-district attorney, who presided for 30 years over Williamson County,.

Anderson was present when the agreement was read, but said nothing. County officials will also go back and review all previous cases handled by Anderson.

He faced up to 10 years in prison if convicted of tampering with evidence in the 1987 murder trial of Michael Morton, who wrongly spent nearly a quarter-century behind bars. Anderson was accused of concealing evidence that would have benefited Morton’s defense.

Morton, who attended Friday’s hearing, was released in 2011 after DNA evidence showed he didn’t beat his wife to death.