Preston's testimony was used in at least 60 felony cases in Brevard.

After his murder case is dropped, Bill Dillon seeks $1.35M from Florida

Satta Sarmah |Sentinel Staff Writer

December 12, 2008

A Brevard County man who served 27 years in prison before prosecutors dropped his murder case will seek compensation -- about $1.35 million -- from the state for a wrongful conviction, an official with an advocacy group said. Bill Dillon, accused of beating James Dvorak to death in 1981, won a new trial in November because tests proved Dillon's DNA wasn't on a bloody T-shirt used in his conviction. But Wednesday, Brevard-Seminole State Attorney Norm Wolfinger said he no longer would pursue a murder charge against Dillon, saying too many witnesses had died and it would be too difficult to prosecute a 27-year-old case. Seth Miller, executive director of the Innocence Project of Florida, an advocacy group that pushed for the DNA tests that helped free Dillon, said Thursday that his organization is also calling for a review of cases involving a controversial dog handler who testified against Dillon.

Florida Innocence Project - an organization helps people who are wrongly convicted, will send a letter next week to Florida Gov. Charlie Crist's office calling for a special investigation into cases involving John Preston, whose claims that his dogs could track a human scent years after a crime were eventually discredited.

Preston's testimony was used in at least 60 felony cases in Brevard.

Dillon, who has always maintained his innocence, will seek compensation under a new Florida law that grants $50,000 a year for each year of incarceration for anyone wrongfully convicted of a crime, Miller said.

That could mean $1.35 million for Dillon, who will have to file a petition in circuit court to determine if he is eligible.

If he is, the Florida Attorney General's Office will be notified and determine the appropriate amount.

Dillon also plans to file a civil suit against Brevard County, Miller said.

"If there was ever a case where we would be able to get an honest judgment in a civil suit for wrongful incarceration, it would be the Bill Dillon case," Miller said.


Satta Sarmah can be reached at 407-420-5359 or ssarmah@orlandosentinel.com.


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