Answer:
Williams was not absolving himself of the crimes he committed in the past, rather he was referring to his new status and state of having repented, being redeemed, and now being crime free.
Explanation:
Stanley Williams, according to the passage was a notorious gang member and leader who formed the Cribs a very dangerous group that harassed the people of South Central, Watt, and Compton. He went to juvenile prison in 1969 for stealing a car. In 1979, he was sentenced to death after he was convicted on four counts of murder.
Williams retraced his steps in 1993, he wrote books for children, and generally changed for good. In saying that he was innocent, he was referring to his new state of being redeemed from all the crimes he had committed.
