April 25th, 2012
Exoneree James Bain’s life took on a new role last month when his first child was born. Bain spent 35 years in prison for the kidnapping and rape of a 9-year-old boy. After being denied four times on technicalities for DNA testing that he insisted would prove his innocence, with help from the Florida Innocence Project and Public Defender’s Office in Bartow, he was finally granted testing that showed another man’s DNA on the victim’s underwear. Bain was released from prison on December 17, 2009; at the time of his release, the 35 years he spent in prison was the longest amount of time any DNA exoneree had spent in prison.
Since his release in 2009, Bain has adjusted to life as a family man. He is married to Mallelin Duran, has a 5-year old stepdaughter, and now a one-month old son. Bain is receiving $1.75 million- $50,000 for each year he spent in prison- which he has used to buy a four-bedroom home in a quiet neighborhood for his family. Reflecting on first time fatherhood, Bain says, “His little eyes remind me of me.” Bain says that as his children get older, he plans to be fully open with them about his experiences as an innocent man spending 35 years in prison.