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Jun 17, 2008 5:57 pm US/Central
DNA Identifies Attacker From 1985 Richardson Rape
DALLAS (CBS 11 News/AP) ―
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After being confronted with new DNA evidence Kenneth Woodson admitted to the 1985 rape of a Richardson woman.
Dallas Co. Sheriff's Dept.
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Thomas McGowan is the 16th wrongfully-convicted citizen in Dallas County to be cleared by DNA evidence.
KTVT / KTXA
A DNA sample that freed a wrongly convicted man who spent two decades behind bars has now implicated another man already in prison.
Thomas McGowan spent nearly 23 years in prison after being convicted in separate trials in 1985 and 1986 of rape and burglary. He was sentenced to life in prison both times. In April of 2008, McGowan became Dallas County's 16th wrongfully-convicted citizen to be was cleared by DNA evidence.
Dallas County prosecutors said Tuesday that DNA evidence collected after the 1985 rape of a Richardson woman matches convicted felon Kenneth Woodson. He was convicted of aggravated sexual assault after a 1986 rape and sentenced to 30 years in prison. Woodson served 20 years of the sentence and was paroled in 2006. He was arrested 14 months later for a bank robbery in Richardson and had his parole revoked.
When authorities went to the Rudd Unit in Brownfield to get another swab from Woodson they told him about the match. When he learned his DNA profile was linked to the assault he gave a full audio taped confession.
Prosecutors say Woodson will not be charged because the statute of limitations has expired.
McGowan won his freedom in April after a DNA test showed he did not rape the woman. McGowan, who is represented by the Innocence Project based in New York, consistently maintained his innocence until DNA evidence cleared him of the crime.
"Hopefully, today's news about who the real perpetrator is will bring some closure to the victim in knowing that Mr. Woodson is presently locked away and justice for Mr. McGowan who essentially served Mr. Woodson's time in this case," Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins said in a press release statement.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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