Judge is asked to drop race case against Port Huron man in prison for nearly 10 years

A Port Huron man who has spent nearly a decade behind bars is on the verge of freedom as a prosecutor moves to drop a rape case against him.

James Grissom has maintained his innocence since he was arrested in 2003 for an alleged sexual assault in a Meijer lot in St. Clair County. He was convicted despite a lack of physical evidence against him.

The Michigan Supreme Court recently granted Grissom a second trial. But a judge on Monday is expected to review a request by the St. Clair County prosecutor to drop the case. Mike Wendling concedes there's not a "reasonable likelihood of conviction."

New information emerged after Grissom's conviction in 2003. California police said the woman had lied about assaults that were similar to the Michigan incident.