Controversy Erupts Over Botched Rape Case

Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office officials admit that they botched a rape case that may have led to the suspect being found not guilty by a jury.

John Michael Batchelor was found not guilty by a Spartanburg jury for an alleged rape that took place in 2005, when Batchelor was 16 years of age and when the alleged victim was 14.

But the Mother of the victim claims that the jury never was allowed to see evidence that may have changed the outcome of the trial--due to admitted errors by the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office.

The victim's Mother was so outraged that she charged Sheriff's officials with gross negligence in handling evidence, including the allegation that key evidence was misplaced or lost.

That evidence, she maintains, would have proved beyond doubt that Batchelor had committed the crime.

Only a jury can make that determination, however, and as for this jury and the evidenced placed before them, Batchelor was pronounced not guilty of the crime of which he was accused.