Panel Approves $1.8 Million Payment To Wrongfully Convicted Men

ST. PAUL (AP) - Minnesota lawmakers are expected to sign off on nearly $1.8 million in total payouts to three men who were wrongfully convicted of crimes and later cleared.

A legislative committee on Tuesday unanimously approved payments to Michael Hansen, Roger Lee Olsen and Koua Fong Lee. The men's claims will now head to the full House and Senate for final approval.

The three are the first to take advantage of a compensation bill passed two years ago.

Hansen spent more than six years behind bars in the death of his 3-month-old daughter. He's seeking $917,000 for his wrongful conviction.

Olsen was wrongfully convicted of sexually assaulting his stepdaughter. He's seeking $475,000.

Lee was cleared of vehicular homicide in a fatal rear-end crash. He's seeking $395,000.