Former Wilmington police officer acquitted of 3 charges, including rape

Ex-Cpl. Thomas Oliver Jr. was charged with second-degree rape, extortion and official misconduct.

A jury in Delaware has mostly sided with a former police officer who was accused of forcing a woman to perform a sexual act or go to jail.

The News Journal of Wilmington reported Wednesday that Thomas Oliver Jr. was convicted of official misconduct. But he was acquitted of rape, sexual extortion and having sex with someone in police custody.

Oliver was first charged in February. He resigned from the Wilmington Police Department in August.

RELATED: Woman testifies against Wilmington officer accused of raping her while on duty | Suspended Wilmington officer charged with raping woman while on duty

Prosecutors had said Oliver abused his power as a police officer and forced a woman to preform oral sex in his patrol car. She was wanted for a misdemeanor probation violation.

Oliver and his attorneys claimed the encounter was consensual and that Oliver didn’t know the woman’s criminal history.

The jury had begun deliberating Monday afternoon.

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