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Former Charleston Wheelers ballplayer free after prosecutors drop charges

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A former Charleston Wheelers baseball player left a Kanawha County courtroom a free man Wednesday evening after charges against him were dropped.

Prosecutors decided not to take 49-year-old Jimmie Gardner to trial a second time on Monday on rape and robbery charges.

Gardner was released from jail in April, and was originally convicted over two dozen years ago but given a second trial because of evidence questions.

Prosecutors said the retired police officers from the time of the alleged crime don’t have a good recollection of the evidence, and they’ve decided to drop the charges.

Gardner had been accused beating and sexually assaulting a woman in 1987 in Kanawha City. Prosecutors said they won’t seek another trial in the future.

Gardner was convicted in 1990, and spent over 25 years in prison. At the time of the conviction, he was a pitcher for the minor-league team.





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