Southern California man who served 34 years in prison could have murder charges dismissed

A 69-year-old Southern California man who served 34 years of a life sentence for murder could have the charges dropped.

Michael Hanline was freed from prison last year after Ventura County prosecutors told a judge they were no longer sure he committed the crime. He has been wearing an electronic anklet and is subject to several restrictions since.

That could change at a court hearing scheduled for Wednesday.

The Ventura County Star reports that the district attorney on Tuesday filed a motion to dismiss the charges against Hanline.

Hanline was convicted in 1980 of killing Ventura resident J.T. McGarry and was sentenced to life in prison with no parole.

His case was taken up by the California Innocence Project, whose lawyers persuaded prosecutors to re-examine the evidence.