Darryl Hunt was exonerated in court on February 6, 2004. On April 15, 2004, at the request of Hunt's attorneys and also the Forsyth County District Attorney, Darryl Hunt was granted a formal pardon of innocence by the Governor. That pardon entitles Hunt for financial compensation -- $20,000 a year for each of his 18 years behind bars or $360,000 in total. 21 states, the federal government and the District of Columbia have passed laws to compensate people who have been exonerated. 29 states have no exoneree compensation law.