Darene Don Brooks, 28, of Lubbock was released from the Lubbock County Detention Center and charges of attempted aggravated kidnapping were dropped.
Court records filed on Monday said the charges were dropped for insufficient evidence. Brooks claimed all along he was innocent.
EverythingLubbock exclusively spoke with Brooks on camera upon his release.
“I was actually excited, but at the same time nothing was told to me,” said Brooks. “They just let me out.”
Brooks said, “They knew I didn’t do anything.”
Barron Slack with the office of Lubbock County Criminal District Attorney said, “In this set of circumstances there was not sufficient evidence to support the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Brooks was arrested in April of 2015. Officials said at the time that officers were dispatched to a convenience store in the 200 block of 50th Street.
Court records said, “When officers arrived, they located a 12-year-old female hiding in the bathroom who was claiming to have been abducted.”
Prior to his arrest, Brooks spoke with a reporter. He said he was jogging around Mae Simmons Park, when a young girl walked up to him asking for a ride.
“She was like ‘Can you give me a ride? Do you have a car?’” Brooks said. “And I was like ‘Yeah I got a car, where do you need a ride too?’ And she was like ‘Butler Park.’”
Brooks said along the way he wanted to stop at a convenience store and get water. He said when he came back to his vehicle, the girl was gone. Two days after the TV interview, Brooks was arrested.
Brooks said he has no ill-will towards the girl who accused him of sexual assault.
Brooks has since been released after serving 11 months in jail.
“That time I can’t get back,” said Brooks “I feel it’s ridiculous to have someone in jail that long because I didn’t do it.”
