Former Old Forge Police Chief Larry Semenza, wearing shackles and green prison clothes, a tattoo peeking out from his collar, was all smiles as sheriff's deputies escorted him from court Thursday.

Judge Vito Geroulo had just ordered Semenza be freed on bail as he awaits a possible new trial on corruption charges.Because the former officer, accused of having sexual contact with a 15-year-old girl, has not missed any court appearances in his long-running court case, the judge allowed Semenza to be released on $15,000 unsecured bail.That means he is not required to put any money down in order to leave jail. The former chief was convicted in October 2013 of corruption of a minor and failure to report child abuse.Prosecutors said from 2004 to 2007, he had sexual contact with the girl who was a junior firefighter with the Old Forge Fire Department, where he served as a captain. He was sentenced in January 2014 to 18 months to four years in prison.Because he has already served about 20 months in prison, Semenza could have already completed his sentence if he is retried and found guilty again, his attorney Robert M. Buttner said.A three-judge panel from a state appeals court vacated the defendant's convictions last month after it decided his trial in Lackawanna County Court allowed inadmissible evidence.- Times Shamrock newspapersThe district attorney's office has asked the full 14-judge court to reconsider that decision. If the court declines to accept the case, the district attorney could ask the state Supreme Court to hear the matter.