Minnesota man gets $25K after 10 years in Wisconsin prison

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Minnesota man who served 10 years in a Wisconsin prison for a child sexual assault he didn’t commit has been awarded $25,000 from the Wisconsin Claims Board.

Rommain Steven Isham of Duluth, Minn., was convicted in 1990 of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old boy. Twenty years later, the alleged victim admitted he lied about the abuse.

Isham was seeking $3.65 million, or $1,000 for each day of incarceration. However, the board can only grant a maximum of $5,000 per year up to $25,000.

The board can also recommend that the state Legislature vote to exceed the $25,000 cap in certain cases, but the board didn’t do so in this case.

The board Thursday also granted $15,000 to a Milwaukee man whose child-sexual-assault conviction was overturned after the alleged victim recanted.