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Abuse case dismissed against former WA officer

The Columbian
Published: September 30, 2010, 12:00am

VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) — A former Vancouver police officer who spent nearly 20 years in prison after being accused of sexually abusing his children is a free man.

Cheers rang out Wednesday in a Clark County courtroom after a judge dismissed the case against Clyde Ray Spencer.

The Washington Court of Appeals ruled last year that Spencer could withdraw the no-contest plea he entered in 1985, acknowledging then that he would likely be found guilty of molesting his children. But he always maintained his innocence.

The appeals court found “significant irregularities” in his prosecution, such as the withholding of medical exams showing no evidence of abuse.

His adult son and daughter testified in 2008 that the abuse never took place and they were pressured by their mother and police investigators to accuse their father.

Gov. Gary Locke commuted Spencer’s sentence in 2004.

Prosecutors decided not to refile the charges.

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Information from The Columbian, KGW-TV

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