Former Nashville police officer acquitted of rape
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A former Nashville police officer has been acquitted on charges of rape.
Criminal Court Judge Mark Fishburn found former police Lt. Curtis Watkins not guilty on three charges of rape following a bench trial this week.
Watkins’ former mistress accused him of forcing himself on her on multiple occasions and impregnating her. The woman, who had become pregnant with twins, miscarried.
Evidence at the trial showed that Watkins and the former mistress were in a relationship for at least five years while he was married to someone else.
During closing arguments, Watkins’ lawyer said there was no physical evidence of rape and that the woman’s testimony alone wasn’t enough to convict the former officer.
Watkins resigned from the police department last year.
