A Kansas man wins parole 25 years after being allegedly set up by indicted KCKPD detective

Brian Betts’ case was much like that of Lamonte McIntyre, another KCK man who says he was framed by former KCK Police Detective Roger Golubski. But McIntyre was exonerated in 2017, while Betts served out most of his 25-year sentence.
A Kansas City, Kansas, man who says he’s been wrongfully imprisoned for 25 years learned Friday that he will be released on parole in four months.

Although Brian Betts and his attorneys weren't able to get a new trial to clear his name, his family was ecstatic about the news of his release. Violet Martin, Betts’ sister, said he called at midday to give her and their mother, Ellen Betts, the news. They screamed and thanked God, she said.

“I know my brother. He was smiling,” Martin said. “He was like, ‘June 1! June 1 I’m coming home!’”

Martin said corrections officials told Betts that so many people wrote to the parole board on his behalf that they worried they would break the internet. He was originally sentenced to 25 years to life.

“They had so many supporters for Brian they thought the DOC website was going to go down,” she said.