Two NYPD cops aquitted of major charges in rape case

A jury Thursday cleared the two NYPD cops accused in the rape of an East Village fashion executive of all serious charges.

The verdict, which comes after a week of deliberations in Manhattan Supreme Court, is a major victory for officers Kenneth Moreno, 43, and Franklin Mata, 29, who faced up to 25 years for the most serious charge of rape. They’re also not guilty of other charges, including three counts of second-degree burglary.

The pair, however, was found guilty of official misconduct because they did not call for an ambulance when they were trying to take the woman home. The now 29-year-old woman had admitted to being drunk when the officers tried to help her home in 2008.

Moreno was accused of raping the woman, while Mata allegedly served as a look out. The men denied the allegations, and were apparently helped by the lack of DNA evidence suggesting they had committed a sexual act.

They still face up to a year in jail on the misconduct charge.