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Former Judge, 78, Freed
from Charges of Indecency with Child
Accuser says she made
charges to police in exchange for dropping burglary charge
 Jan.
5, 2005 – A 78-year old former Social Security judge, Forrest Elmo
Stewart, was released from house arrest on Tuesday after the Bexar
County, Texas, district attorney's office dismissed a case alleging he
had sex with a 16-year-old girl, reports the San Antonio Express-News
and KENS-TV.
Bexar County prosecutors
said they dropped the case because they didn't have the evidence
necessary to Stewart, who had been charged with the felony of indecency
with a child by sexual contact.
Stewart traveled to
Victoria, Texas, last April, as part of his job. Police arrested him
that day after getting word that he was with a juvenile. He apparently
was not. The information apparently came from a 16-year-old girl who
told police Stewart paid her for sex.
Last summer, Mulliner
obtained an examining trial, which gives defense lawyers an early peek
at the prosecution's case before indictment. The state put the girl on
the stand. She made contradictory statements and admitted she made up
allegations that Stewart paid her $100 for sex so prosecutors would drop
a burglary rap she picked up.
Stewart's lawyer, Jeff Mulliner, said the
case was always a weak one.
"Our position all along
has been that the case that Forrest Stewart was arrested for was a false
allegation," Mulliner said. "I think anybody who sat through that
examining trial with that young lady realized that the state case
against Forrest Stewart was a pitiful case."
"I thank God. Justice
prevails," Stewart said Tuesday.
Click here to full story in San Antonio Express-News
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