State trooper found innocent of rape charge

GREENFIELD, Mo. -- A Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper was found innocent Friday of charges that he raped an 11-year-old girl in 1989.

Sgt. David Callaway, 41, of Marshfield, had been charged with rape, sodomy and sexual abuse. The jury deliberated for just over two hours Friday evening before returning the verdict.

Prosecutors claimed Callaway had abused the girl while teaching her to swim at a Stockton Lake campground.

The alleged victim, who is now 23, has said that she waited so long to come forward because of emotional distress.

"This was an absolute tragedy that David had to go through this," his attorney, Joseph Passanise, said. "The state had absolutely no physical evidence, the investigation by the patrol was shoddy at best, and the prosecution used no discretion. This case should have never been filed, much less seen a jury trial."

A pilot for the patrol, Callaway remains on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation, Passanise said.

The patrol is expected to hold a hearing on Callaway's future sometime next week.