Senate approves innocence bill

RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY) - A bill that could make it easier for the wrongly convicted to prove their innocence is one signature away from becoming law.

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's amendment to the Writ of Actual Innocence bill would loosen the stringent demands for defendants to prove their innocence and allow the attorney general to provide evidence of innocence, not just guilty.

This comes just months after Johnathon Montgomery was granted a conditional pardon by Governor Bob McDonnell. A Writ of Actual Innocence needs to be filed in his case to fully clear his record.

Montgomery was falsely imprisoned for more than half of his 7-year sentence on a rape charge. His accuser backed off her accusation last year, and charges were dropped against Montgomery.