George Perrot: Man wrongly convicted of rape in infamous case faces new rape charge

Reports say police found him unconscious with his face between a woman's legs

George Perrot is back in jail over new rape charges after a judge previously overturned his 1985 ruling. (Springfield Police Department)

A man who previously served 30 years for a rape charge that was later overturned has been arrested over new accusations of sexual assault, according to reports.

George Perrot’s previous case received worldwide attention when he was sentenced to life in prison at the age of 17 after being found guilty of raping 78-year-old Mary Prekop in her Massachusetts home.

That ruling was overturned three years ago by Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Robert J Kane, who cited flawed forensic evidence and wrote in a complaint that police “fabricated physical evidence to frame him".

The new charges against Mr Perrot include rape, open and gross lewdness, resisting arrest, as well as assault and battery on a police officer, The Republican reported.

Police found him lying unconscious between the legs of a partially naked woman, who was also unconscious, according to the newspaper.

The woman was found to be overdosing from heroin and was provided nasal Narcan, according to a police report from the 4 January incident.

She did not consent to having sex with Mr Perrot, according to the police report, telling the responding officers she knew him but that they were not dating or in a relationship.

Mr Perrot, who reportedly became combative with police officers upon waking up on the side of the road, was scheduled to be arraigned Monday.

He filed a civil rights lawsuit against numerous entities after his 1985 conviction was overturned, including FBI agents, the city of Springfield, police officers and the former prosecutor involved in his case.

Multiple organisations helped Mr Perrot fight his decades-long legal battle, including the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism at Brandeis University and the Innocence Project.

He has pleaded not guilty to the latest charges against him.