CMPD officer, helicopter pilot cleared of all sex crimes because of 'insufficient evidence'

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A veteran Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer who flew the department's chopper for years until he was jailed on sex crime allegations had all 28 of his felony charges dropped Friday.

Channel 9 obtained court documents that detail what happened to the case.

The district attorney said there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Matthew Porter committed those crimes.

[PAST COVERAGE: CMPD officer, helicopter pilot accused of sexually assaulting young girl]

BREAKING | Charges have been dropped for veteran CMPD officer Matthew Porter, DA confirms to me.
Porter was charged with 8 counts of first degree sex offense and 20 counts of indecent liberties. What prosecutors say, coming up at 5:00pm. pic.twitter.com/fWNu3aJjL7
— Stephanie Tinoco (@STinocoWSOC9) July 27, 2018

Porter was arrested five months ago, charged with eight counts of first-degree sex offenses and 20 counts of indecent liberties.

Court documents say the accuser, a 17-year-old who lives in Nevada, told a counselor at an at-risk teen center in Nevada that Porter fondled her multiple times while she lived in Charlotte from July 2009 to July 2012.

The accuser, a family friend, also reported her mother and Porter's wife were in the room when the incidents happened.

She reported that she told investigators that her family didn't believe her and that the sexual incidents happened underneath the covers while sitting on the couch.

Prosecutors said the accuser was interviewed twice and gave inconsistent statements about what acts were committed or who else was present when the acts happened.

Porter denied the accusations, claiming he was never alone with the child.

Court documents show the state's evidence would only consist of the accuser's testimony because there are no other witnesses or evidence to support the allegations.

Prosecutors said the information does not reflect the truthfulness of the state's allegation or the accuser's credibility in general, but the state would not be able to prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

Court documents show Porter was arrested without a warrant because there was probable cause in the case.

Channel 9 has reached out to CMPD for comment.

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