After six years, Cave City dentist Chris Steward was acquitted this week in Barren District Court. The case against Steward began Jan. 7, 1998, when Paul Houchens Sr. the uncle of one of Stewards rivals in the 1998 magisterial race filed a criminal complaint in Barren Circuit Court claiming Steward threw rocks at his truck, damaging the vehicles paint, and twice tried to run him off the road. Steward was charged with third-degree criminal mischief, a Class C misdemeanor. Steward said its all politically motivated. I have mixed feelings, said Steward, who is a former Barren County magistrate and a candidate for judge-executive in 2002. Im glad I was found innocent. Its sickening that someone can tie up the justice system. Walter Baker, Stewards attorney, said the matter was set for trial seven times. In every instance, the continuance was based on a motion by the prosecutor, Baker said. I have never seen a misdemeanor prosecution that extended with the lifespan of this one. Special District Judge Renona Browning dismissed the charges in late 2000, but special prosecutor John Paul Blevins appealed that and former Warren County Circuit Judge John Minton reversed Brownings decision. They will be talking about this in law schools in Kentucky for years to come, Steward said. I didnt think this could happen in America. Green County Attorney Jeff Eastham was appointed as special prosecutor after Blevins recused himself due to health reasons. Im looking at all of my options, Eastham said. He said he had some problems with one of the defense witness testimony. He plans to ask law enforcement officials to look into it. The Kentucky State Police trooper who investigated the incident is no longer with the KSP and Post 3 couldnt find the photographs taken during the investigation. The people who prepared estimates on the damage had also moved on, Eastham said. We were at a disadvantage, he said. These things certainly didnt help our case. The Barren County Courthouse is supposed to be where justice is served, Steward said. What room do I knock on to get my reputation back, what door do I knock on to get my money back? he asked.