Rape charges against Barrett dropped

The rape charges against Associated Students Inc. Vice President Mike Barrett were dismissed Wednesday by a Long Beach Superior Court judge.

During the proceedings originally scheduled to be Barrett's trial date, prosecuting attorney Lucianne Khalaf dropped the case against Barrett after investigators for the district attorney's office found evidence that led to his "factual innocence."

"It's an extreme relief," said Barrett after the charges against him were dropped.

Barrett said he accepted an apology from Judge James Pierce of the Long Beach Superior Court as he dismissed the charges and ordered all records regarding the charges to be sealed and later destroyed.

The woman testified at the preliminary hearing that the vice president raped her twice last June.

After her testimony, the judge found sufficient evidence to schedule a trial.

"I was completely confident about the case," Barrett said in an interview late last year.

If convicted of both felony counts, Barrett could have faced up to 16 years in federal prison.

"Thank you for your support," said Barrett at the A.S. Senate meeting Wednesday afternoon, offering his gratitude to those who stood by him.

A.S. I. President Carl Kemp congratulated Barrett on his victory. "I never had a doubt," he said.