Gardner walks out of Kanawha County Circuit Court on Wednesday with his attorneys, Robert Dunlap and Karina Rahall.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — After hearing Wednesday that the nearly 30-year-old charges against him would be dismissed, Jimmie Gardner walked out of the courtroom and called his mother.
“Hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus,” Gardner’s mother, Gladys, could be heard saying through the cellphone.
The former Charleston Wheelers baseball player — who spent 27 years in prison — was set to be retried Monday on charges of sexual assault and burglary.
Prosecutors decided during a routine hearing Wednesday, though, that they would not go forward with the case.
“I thought it would just be a hearing,” said Gardner, 50. “I’m almost speechless. It’s been a long time coming. It’s been a very, very, very long time coming…