A former Tamaqua man was found not guilty in a child rape case in Schuylkill County court.

Keith McFarland, who now lives in Palmerton, was found not guilty on all charges against him Thursday in the Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas.

Tamaqua police charged McFarland with rape of a child, indecent assault person less than 13 years of age, indecent exposure, and corruption of minors for an incident that was alleged to have taken place in Tamaqua years ago.

This is the third time McFarland has been tried, the previous two trials resulted in mistrials.

“I’m ecstatic. This is the third try. I’ve been trying to prove my innocence from the start,” McFarland said.

His attorney, Matthew Rapa of Lehighton, said the jury made the right decision.

“I think the jury took time and listened to all the evidence. I think we finally got the result that was warranted in the first two cases,” he said.

Read the Times News Friday for the complete story.