TEXAS man freed on DNA evidence after 14 years in prison on murder, rape conviction

WACO, Texas (AP) _ A man who served 14 years in prison for rape and murder was freed after DNA tests showed blood found on his shirt did not come from the victim in the attack. <br><br>Calvin Washington,

Friday, July 6th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WACO, Texas (AP) _ A man who served 14 years in prison for rape and murder was freed after DNA tests showed blood found on his shirt did not come from the victim in the attack.

Calvin Washington, 45, was released on $5,000 bail Thursday based on the tests, performed on a shirt that had been seized from a house where Washington was staying at the time of the crime.

The results showed the blood was not that of Juanita White, who was found beaten to death in her home in March 1986.

``I'm speechless,'' Washington said after leaving the McLennan County Jail. ``It was hard to do time like that knowing you didn't commit the crime.''

Defense attorney Walter M. Reaves Jr. said he hopes the case will be closed within a couple of months, and expects a pardon from the governor or a finding of innocence from the state Court of Criminal Appeals.

McLennan County Assistant District Attorney Matt Johnson said Washington is not likely to be tried again, unless new incriminating evidence is discovered.

Washington and Joe Sidney Williams were sentenced to life prison terms in December 1987. Williams was freed in 1993 after an appeals court said testimony in his case was improperly admitted.