Heroin Charges Dropped Against Ex-Cop Kenneth Moreno

Prosecutors have dropped heroin-possession charges against a former NYPD officer. He previously was acquitted of rape but convicted of misconduct in an encounter with a woman he was called to help get home.

Until Monday, the drug charges had lingered unresolved after the May verdict in Kenneth Moreno's case. Prosecutors had said two packets of heroin were found in his police locker during the investigation.

Moreno was sentenced to a year in jail on the misconduct conviction. However, he is free during a planned appeal.

Prosecutors on Monday noted his jail sentence and said they didn't see any further purpose to proceeding with the heroin case.

Moreno's lawyer says five officers shared the locker, and the drugs were not Moreno's.

Moreno, 43, and another officer, Franklin Mata, 29, were fired from the police department within hours of their misconduct convictions in May.

Moreno was accused of raping a woman while Mata stood watch.