In August 2010, it came out that one of the key witnesses who testified against Michael — FBI analyst Duane Deaver — had falsely represented evidence in 34 cases. Because Deaver's bloodstain analysis on a pair of Michael's shorts ended up being a principal reason that the jury found him guilty, the case was reopened. By December 2011, Michael was released from prison on $300,000 bail and placed under house arrest with a tracking anklet.
In February of 2017, Michael's lead defence attorney, David Rudolf, negotiated for a resolution with the Durham County DA. Michael signed an Alford plea, which asserts the defendant is innocent while also acknowledging enough evidence for a conviction exists. He was sentenced to 86 months in prison, but with a credit for time served, he didn't have to serve any additional time in prison.