A Massachusetts man who served prison time for the rape and kidnapping of an 11-year-old girl he always maintained he did not commit has been awarded $1 million in damages in a wrongful conviction lawsuit.

A jury ruled in favor of Kevin O'Loughlin on Tuesday after he sued the state, the town of Framingham and several police officers involved in his conviction.

O'Loughlin was 19 at the time of the girl's assault in Framingham in 1982. He served more than three years in prison, during which he says he was assaulted by other inmates.

O'Loughlin's case was reopened after a retired police officer discovered the evidence pointed to another man.

A former lawyer for O'Loughlin says Tuesday's verdict proves that he is "absolutely innocent of that horrific crime."