A former Dartmouth police officer accused of child rape is set to appear in court after a judge dismissed his previous conviction, prompting outrage from the Bristol County DA.

Shawn Souza, a former Dartmouth police officer, was found guilty of child rape charges related to his stepdaughter and another in October.

A judge has nullified the conviction of a former Massachusetts police officer found guilty of child rape and ordered a new trial, the Bristol County District Attorney’s office said Wednesday. Shawn Souza,

A judge has set aside the child rape conviction of former Dartmouth police officer Shawn Souza, ordering a new trial despite a unanimous jury verdict, as prosecutors appeal the decision.

In October, former Dartmouth Police Officer Shawn Souza was sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison for four child rape convictions. But he was released months later, after the judge who presided over his case called for a new trial.