Hilton Keller, who spent 33 years behind bars, is released from prison after judge vacates sentence

A man who spent 33 years in prison for murder had his sentence vacated and was released late Monday night.

Hilton Keller, 52, has served more than 30 years for the May 1991 armed robbery and slaying of Ollie Jones. Keller, who was 18 years old at the time, has maintained his innocence.

Keller's attorneys have said information regarding benefits given to witnesses who testified against Keller that was legally supposed to be passed to Keller's defense team was not handed over. They also say there is evidence that another man, who is deceased, committed the killing.

“In the 20 years I have been working on wrongful convictions, I have never seen a more egregious case of framing an innocent man," Keller’s defense lawyer, Stuart Chanen, said in a statement. "It would have taken just ten minutes of actual police work to determine that Keller was innocent.”

On Monday a judge vacated his sentence and conviction, Cook County court records show. He was released late Monday night awaiting a potential re-trial of his case, which the state's attorney's office could opt to do — though Keller's lawyers said they're confident it won't.

Keller's attorneys say they will file for a certificate of innocence from the Cook County criminal court after the new year.

“While I am thrilled to be out, I am also not done," Keller said in a statement. "I will keep fighting in court until I am declared innocent and my name is cleared.”