Grain Valley man is acquitted in one rape, but a second charge is pending

A Grain Valley man has been acquitted of rape by a Jackson County jury, but a separate rape case remains pending.

Richard A. Black, 33, was charged in May 2015 with first-degree rape for an assault that allegedly happened in his home. A second woman accused him of rape shortly after that.

Black was found not guilty last Friday in the first case after a three-day trial in which he testified. Defense attorney Molly Hastings said it was “a quintessential he said, she said” case.

A pretrial conference on the second case is scheduled for Friday. Black remains in jail.

This story was originally published June 7, 2016 at 10:26 AM.