After spending four years behind bars, a 46-year-old former police officer has been acquitted of the charges that put him there. Federal domestic violence allegations were brought against the man after he had allegedly spent years abusing his wife both verbally and physically. He had also supposedly threatened to kill her and s stalked her.

He was first convicted in 2009 and sentenced to five years in prison, but an appeals court threw out the decision in April 2011 because the trial judge allowed the jury to hear about previous acts involving the man and an altercation with police in New Jersey.

That 2008 altercation, involved an arrest during a traffic stop, where the man had been found carrying a ski mask, bulletproof vest, ammunition, three muzzle-loading rifles and a last will in an allegedly stolen rental vehicle.

The man's second trial did not mention the event in New Jersey, as federal prosecutors were barred from doing so.

Lawyers for the man said that his wife had lied about being abused, citing the fact that allegations did not arise until he filed for divorce from her in 2006 when he believed she was having an affair. The man believes that a child custody battle may have caused her to lie.

The jury deliberated for six hours and announced the acquittal the next day. The former police officer had spent almost two decades on injury leave with pay before his acquittal came. That disability leave ended in 2009.

While domestic violence is never alright, sometimes spouses will manipulate the facts, which can lead to the consequences seen above. The man had to spend four years in prison and will likely have a tarnished reputation because of charges he was acquitted of. Some family law attorneys will work to ensure that domestic violence charges are legitimate.

Source: Lohud.com, "Federal jury acquits ex-Ramapo cop of domestic violence charges," Steve Lieberman, Feb. 1, 2012