FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A former Fort Worth police officer who spent 21 years in prison after being convicted of raping a 13-year-old girl has been acquitted in a new trial.
A jury deliberated just more than an hour Friday before finding 57-year-old Brian Franklin not guilty.
Franklin was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted in 1995, but was freed in May when the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned the conviction because the girl — now a woman in her 30s — admitted she lied during his trial.
The woman testified during Franklin’s new trial that she told the truth about him assaulting her.
Franklin said he’s angry, but relieved and knew he would eventually be acquitted.
His attorney said he’ll file to have the charge expunged from the record.