An Illinois man who was convicted of raping a 15-year-old girl in 1994 has been freed after spending 12 years in prison. DNA evidence exonerated Dean Cage of the sexual assault for which he was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

The Innocence Project in New York said Cage was the 29th inmate in Illinois who has been exonerated by DNA evidence tested after their conviction.

Cage, 41, was released from prison after Chief Criminal Court Judge Paul Biebel dismissed the charges against him. The prosecutors requested the dismissal of the charges.

Cage insisted that he was home at the time of the attack on the 15-year-old girl.

See Also:
DNA Clears Man of Rape After 12 Years in Prison

More Information:
The Innocence Project: Wrongful Convictions

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^{Photo: Illinois Department of Corrections}