Louisville man pardoned after 20 years in prison says music kept him alive

In 2001, Hurt, then 25, was convicted of sexually abusing his 6-year-old stepdaughter and sentenced to life in prison

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Paul Hurt spent nearly two decades in prison. He said music never left him, even when almost everything else did.

While incarcerated, Hurt said he was attacked and his hand was slammed in a door to stop him from playing guitar. He taped a pick to what remained of his finger and continued playing.

In 2001, Hurt, then 25, was convicted of sexually abusing his 6-year-old stepdaughter and sentenced to life in prison, leaving his three children — ages 4, 5 and 6 at the time.

Hurt maintained his innocence, saying the child's father fabricated the allegations and "brainwashed" his daughter to support them. There was no forensic evidence linking Hurt to the crime. The alleged victim later recanted before changing her story again.

Each year, Hurt wrote to the judge who sentenced him, Steve Mershon, but received no response.

Then Hurt suffered a "widowmaker" heart attack and initially refused surgery. He said he viewed the heart attack as a way to die without breaking a promise he had made to his daughter not to take his own life.

Believing he was dying, Hurt wrote what he thought would be his final letter to Mershon.

"If we get to heaven, perhaps God will let us have a conversation," Hurt said.

Two weeks after that letter, Mershon walked into the prison. The judge urged Hurt to have the surgery and spent years working to secure his release. Mershon eventually asked then-Gov. Matt Bevin to pardon Hurt.

In 2019, Bevin granted the pardon. Mershon drove Hurt home from prison himself.

"At noon that day I was an inmate. At 3 p.m., I was sitting next to my mom after 20 years," Hurt said.

Accepting the pardon required Hurt to give up his right to sue the state — the only avenue wrongfully convicted Kentuckians have to seek compensation. Kentucky is one of about a dozen states without a compensation law for exonerees.

For the past five years, Hurt has joined other exonerees in urging state lawmakers to pass such a law. The legislation has stalled each year.

Hurt is now the bassist for the band Kin of None and is raising money to record a full album.

"I would like a legacy of something to leave behind," Hurt said.