Rabb releases statement on Montalvo Capitol visit
Rep. Christopher M. Rabb February 6, 2024 | 12:36 PM
On Monday, Feb. 5, state Rep. Chris Rabb held a reception in his office for Mr. Noel Matos Montalvo, who in December was released from York County Prison after his 2003 conviction was overturned by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Mr. Montalvo was convicted and incarcerated for over 25 years for a double homicide he did not commit. Numerous DNA tests and forensic reanalysis over the past two decades have all excluded Montalvo as a participant in the 1998 double homicide.
“It was an honor to meet Mr. Montalvo in person today and to let him know that there are public servants in our commonwealth who stand with him on the right side of history, fighting to repeal our state’s cruel, ineffectual, costly and biased death sentence,” Rabb said.
For four terms, Rabb has introduced legislation to repeal the death penalty. In October 2023, H.B. 999 was reported out of the House Judiciary Committee with bipartisan support and now awaits a House vote.
“One person wrongly incarcerated is one too many,” Rabb said. “And now, we have one more person – an exoneree from death row – who is closest to the pain who can help lead the fight to abolish capital punishment in Pennsylvania.”
Rabb has also introduced robust legislation in successive terms – currently H.B. 987 – to generously compensate and provide wrap-around services to Pennsylvanians whose liberty was stolen due to wrongful convictions.
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