A Dallas County judge rewarded Johnny Pinchback, 55, his freedom on Thursday. He was wrongly convicted and sent to prison 26 years ago for rape.

The courtroom burst into cheers, applause and a standing ovation when a judge said "Mr. Pinchback, you are free to go".

Family, friends and others who have been exonerated filled the courtroom for the moment when Pinchback could walk into freedom after being convicted in 1987 for aggravated sexual assault.

Back then, the teenage victims ages 14 and 16, wrongly identified Pinchback out of a lineup. They said he was the man who tied them up and raped them at gunpoint in an Oak Cliff field.

Pinchback thanked his family, The Innocence Project of Texas and God for this day of freedom.

"God did that for me, exactly what I asked Him" said Pinchback. "There was no way possible that man was going to be able to clear up what they had in those transcripts that had been fabricated, there was no way."

Dallas County has exonerated 22 people. It has exonerated more people than any other county in the nation. One reason is because it has saved more evidence from past crimes.

Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins said there is legislation now being considered in Austin that would prevent such a thing from happening to anyone else. One bill deals with eye-witness identification reform and the other bill deals with how counties store evidence after crimes.

Pinchback said he is now going to spend the rest of his life helping other just like him who have been wrongly convicted, but sit in jail.

But on his day of freedom, he wanted a great steak and then head to his mom's house.