Back in the fall of 1998, when I was a staff writer at the LA Weekly, I wrote an article about a teenage boy from South Central Los Angeles named Ricky Tovar.

He had been wrongly incarcerated for a crime he did not commit, and was kept in jail even after police knew he did not commit the crime. He was young and Latino, sported the shaved head, slouchy posture and baggy clothing popular among his peers. That seemed to be enough for the cops.

The story is here (in two parts):

http://www.laweekly.com/news/news/saving-ricky-tovar-page-1/7332/

http://www.laweekly.com/news/news/saving-ricky-tovar-page-2/7331/

And a followup (with then-DA Gil Garcetti's apology) here: http://www.laweekly.com/news/news/remorse-in-high-places/7543/

Yesterday, more than nine years after the story ran, I received an email from Ricardo Tovar, which follows:

Hello Sara,

Alot has been going on this year. Weve been going through some very difficult times here at home, which now at the end of the year has led me to do some extensive soul searching. In the process, I dug up the article you wrote. After so many years, I finally read it in its entirety.

Im not sure I ever thanked you, and if I didnt, I sincerely apologize. I tried contacting you with sole intention of thanking you as your presence during that time in not only my life but my entire family's life made all the difference in the world.

You were one of, if not the most instumental person/factor in that whole ordeal. I cannot thank you enough. Im forever in debt to you for everything you did. Ill leave you with a slight progress report since we last had contact: My mom was operated 3 times this year (2out-patient, 1 major).

Nonetheless, she is the strongest person in the world and has fully recovered. Unfortunately, my dad is no longer with us. He passed away earlier this year in January. My brothers and sister are doing well these days.

As for myself, I had a run-in with the law some time in 2000. Since then, Ive been working my #$$ off! I picked up an AA degree in Automotive Repair (which smc never issued) and a second AA in Liberal Arts. Im currently attending CSULA as an accounting major and Im in my junior year. If everything goes well, Ill be graduating in the spring of 2009.

Again, I just wanted to take a moment and thank you for everything you did, for your support, and for believing in me. And thank you for your swift response. I was really doubful I was going to get in contact with you.

Again, thanks alot!!!

-Rick Tovar

To see that Mr. Tovar has done so well for himself should make us all think twice about our quick and all-to-easy assumptions. Bravo to you, Rick.