Dallas ? Three times during his nearly 27 years in prison, Charles Chatman went before a parole board and refused to admit he was a rapist. His steadfastness was vindicated Thursday, when a judge released him because of new DNA evidence showing he indeed wasn’t.

The release of Chatman, 47, added to Dallas County’s nationally unmatched number of wrongfully convicted inmates.

“Every time I’d go to parole, they’d want a description of the crime or my version of the crime,” Chatman said. “I don’t have a version of the crime. I never committed the crime. I never will admit to doing this crime that I know I didn’t do.”

Before the crime is officially cleared from Chatman’s record, the appeals court must accept the recommendation or the governor must grant a pardon. Either step is considered a formality after Creuzot’s ruling.

Chatman became the 15th inmate from Dallas County since 2001 to be freed by DNA testing. He served more time than any of the other inmates.