Perryville man acquitted of rape

A Perryville, Mo., man facing a statutory rape charge was acquitted Wednesday night in a Cape Girardeau County courtroom.

After a one-day trial before Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis, the jury debated for less than an hour before returning a not-guilty verdict for James L. Horn.

Horn had been charged with raping a 12-year-old girl in September 2006. The crime was not reported until March 2008, according to Matthew Radefeld, Horn's attorney.

During the trial, the courtroom filled with members of Bikers Against Child Abuse but most did not stay to hear the verdict, Radefeld said.

The case was transferred to Cape Girardeau County on a change of venue.