Ricardo Rachell's family was at the Harris County Jail on Friday evening waiting for him. Family members say they were grateful he was released and always believed in his innocence.
A judge approved a personal recognizance bond for Rachell. He had served five years of a 40-year sentence.
Harris County District Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced Thursday that the 51-year-old Rachell will be freed from prison so that he can begin the legal process required to overturn his 2003 conviction on aggravated sexual assault.
Rachell's case is among about 540 that have been reviewed -- or are currently under review -- by the district attorney's office since 2001.
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