Any hopes Alan Crotzer, who spent 24 years in a Florida prison for a crime he did not commit, has of receiving relief from the State of Florida in the coming special legislative session, may rely on Floridians receiving relief from property taxes.
Gov. Charlie Crist said Wednesday that the special session will focus on property taxes, and everything else will have to take a back seat.
"It's a case that cries out for justice," said Crist, of Crotzer's ordeal. "Whether or not it's one that can be utilized or addressed in this special session coming up, I'm not sure. I want to make sure we do what the special session is called for, and that's lower property taxes. If it's looking like we're getting closer to a deal, then we can consider it."
Crotzer spent 24 years in prison for a wrongful rape, burglary, robbery and kidnapping conviction before DNA evidence cleared him in 2005.
He and his attorney, Michael Olenick, who is working for free, tried to get a claims bill through the legislature this past session, that would've paid him $1.25 million. The House passed the bill, but the Senate didn't.

More than a year after her disappearance, "Dateline NBC" did a segment on Tallahassee resident Ali Gilmore Tuesday night, sandwiching her story between two other unsolved disappearance cases.
Gilmore's family was happy for the coverage, though they said her story was shorter than the other two.
"I thank God they put it in the public eye," said Ali's mother, Laurvetta Grimsley-McLawrence. "Maybe something will come out of it."
Gilmore, who was four months pregnant at the time, was last seen when she left her part-time job at Publix at 11 p.m. on Feb. 2, 2006. The 30-year-old went to the house that she and her estranged husband, James, shared at 231 Loraine Court.
She received a call, and investigators said she left her house on that stormy night. Gilmore's car was left in the driveway, a set of work keys were still in her purse in the car, but her house keys were gone. The house was locked except for a side window in a spare bedroom.
Though investigations like these almost always begin with the spouse, I thought the "Dateline" segment should've included information on a man Gilmore was dating after she and James separated.
Family and friends said Gilmore was dating a truck driver and described him as light skinned and muscular with curly hair. The relationship ended sometime in January 2006, when Ali decided to reconcile with James.
A producer for "Dateline," John Block said they have already received numerous calls about Ali Gilmore. One only hopes they get a call that helps solve the case.